Seekonk man already facing child pornography charges, pleads guilty to new charges

BOSTON – A Seekonk man pleaded guilty on Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2021 in federal court in Boston to charges of child pornography.

Sean J. Trahan, 44, pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of child pornography and one count of access with intent to view child pornography. U.S. District Court Judge George A. O’Toole scheduled sentencing for Feb. 17, 2022.

This case stemmed from two separate investigations into Trahan’s child pornography activities. An undercover investigation revealed that Trahan used the Dark Web to access child pornography in February 2015. In October 2015, Trahan was arrested and charged after a search of his residence revealed images of child pornography on his personal computer. At the time of his arrest, Trahan stated that he had accessed sites containing child pornography.

Trahan was released on conditions, including cell phone monitoring. On Sept. 8, 2021, he was arrested for violating conditions of his release. Trahan remains in custody.

In October 2021, Trahan was later charged in a superseding information after further investigation connected Trahan with a username that posted child pornography in a Kik messenger group. Another search of Trahan’s residence in September 2021 revealed child pornography on Trahan’s tablet.

The charges of possession of child pornography and accessing child pornography with intent to view each provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Due to a prior state conviction for possession of child pornography, Trahan faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years in prison if he is convicted. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell and Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Winnebago (Wis.) Sherriff’s Office and the Seekonk Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney James D. Herbert of Mendell’s Criminal Division is prosecuting the case.

The case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.