Sex offender arrested Tuesday on child pornography charges

PROVIDENCE – Vincent J. Siravo, 40, of Westerly, a registered sex offender convicted in Rhode Island state court in 2008 for possessing child pornography, has been ordered detained in federal custody following his arrest on Tuesday while he allegedly exchanged child pornography online by accessing a South Kingstown restaurant’s customer Internet account.

According to court documents, between January 2017 and October 2017, members of the Rhode Island State Police Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force identified a device using an IP address assigned to a South Kingstown restaurant that accessed a file sharing network and that possessed files of child pornography. On October 18, 2017, a court-authorized search of the business was conducted by members of the ICAC. A search of the business’s electronic devices was conducted, and no contraband was located.

On October 16, 2019, a member of the ICAC Task Force received notification that a device on a peer-to-peer file sharing network was accessing the Internet connection assigned to the South Kinsgstown restaurant. A State Police Detective responded to the restaurant and allegedly discovered Siravo sitting in his car, parked in a handicap parking spot, with a laptop on his lap. Siravo was allegedly uncooperative and provided a false name to law enforcement. His true identity was confirmed through his vehicle registration, and law enforcement also determined that he 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 allegedly 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 appeared Tuesday before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Lincoln D. Almond, charged by way of a federal criminal complaint with possession of child pornography and distribution of child pornography, announced 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 is punishable by 10-20 years in federal prison, lifetime supervise release, and a fine of $250,000. Distribution of child pornography is punishable by 15-40 years imprisonment, lifetime supervised release, and a fine of $250,000.

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