Source: United States Department of Justice News
PROVIDENCE – Christopher J. Skinner, 33, of Providence, convicted in unrelated child pornography cases brought by the United States Air Force in 2010, in Rhode Island state court in 2014, and, most recently, in federal court in Providence in February 2022, was sentenced today to ten years in federal prison for possession of child pornography, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
In January 2022, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children notified the Rhode Island State Police Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force that files containing child sexual abuse had been uploaded by an individual in Rhode Island. Further investigation by a Homeland Security Investigations agent and a Rhode Island State Police detective determined that the files had been uploaded from an IP address assigned to Skinner’s residence. A court-authorized search in February 2022 of Skinner’s home and his cell phone led to the discovery of images containing child sexual abuse.
Skinner pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in June 2022 to possession of child pornography. He was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Judge Mary S. McElroy to 120 months in federal prison to be followed by 10 years of federal supervised release.
According to court records, in 2010, Skinner was convicted of possession of child pornography by the United States Air Force and sentenced to 2 years of confinement and dishonorable discharge from the Air Force; and, in an unrelated case in 2014, Skinner was convicted in Rhode Island state court of possession of child pornography and sentenced to 10 years of incarceration – 3 years to serve.
Skinner has also been convicted of failure to register as a sex offender.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lee H. Vilker.
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