Registered sex offender who accessed child porn in restaurant parking lot pleads guilty

PROVIDENCE – A registered sex offender arrested by members of the Rhode Island State Police Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force while he sat in a restaurant parking lot accessing the business’ Wi-Fi-feed to view child pornography is facing 10 years in federal prison after pleading guilty today to possession of child pornography after having previously been convicted for possession of child.

Vincent J. Siravo, 41, of Westerly, convicted in Rhode Island state court in 2008 for possessing child pornography, has been detained in federal custody since August 4, 2020.

According to information presented to the court, the ICAC Task Force developed information that on multiple occasions a device was connecting to an IP address assigned to a South Kingstown restaurant, and that the device had accessed a file sharing network and possessed files of child pornography.

On October 16, 2019, a member of the Task Force received notification that a device on a peer-to-peer file sharing network was accessing the Internet connection assigned to the restaurant. A State Police Detective responded to the restaurant and discovered Siravo sitting in his car, parked in a handicap parking spot, with a laptop computer on his lap. Siravo was uncooperative and provided a false name to law enforcement. His true identity was confirmed through his vehicle registration. Law enforcement determined that Siravo was a Level 1 sex offender.

A court-authorized search of Siravo’s computer revealed a large quantity of child pornography. A full forensic review of the computer revealed approximately 2,200 video files and approximately 1,600 images depicting child pornography. Among the child pornography files discovered on Siravo’s computer were files identified as having been downloaded by someone using the restaurant IP address on March 21 through March 22, 2017.

Siravo’s guilty plea before U.S. District Court Judge Mary S. McElroy is announced by United States Attorney Aaron L. Weisman, Superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police Colonel James M. Manni, and Homeland Security Investigations Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael S. Shea.

Possession of child pornography after having previously been convicted for possession of child is punishable by 10-20 years in federal prison, lifetime supervise release, and a fine of $250,000.

According to a plea agreement filed with the court, at a sentencing hearing scheduled to be held on December 14, 2020, the government and the defendant will jointly recommend the court sentence Siravo to a 10-year term of incarceration in federal prison.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lee. H. Vilker.