Justin Mierisch Guilty Plea – CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

CRANSTON MAN ADMITS TO POSSESSING CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

PROVIDENCE – A Cranston man today admitted in federal court to possessing nearly 1,500 videos and more than 240 images of child pornography.

Justin Mierisch, formerly of Smithfield, was arrested in September 2018, after an investigation by the Rhode Island State Police Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force determined that since at least April 28, 2015, and continuing through September 17, 2018, Mierisch possessed hundreds of images and more than 1,500 videos of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

According to court documents and information presented to the Court, the ICAC investigation determined that Mierisch possessed images of child pornography while living in Smithfield and while living at his present residence in Cranston.

On September 17, 2018, members of the ICAC Task Force executed a court-authorized search of Mierisch’s Cranston residence and seized Mierisch’s electronic storage devices. A forensic audit of Mierisch’s property revealed 1,477 videos and 242 images of child pornography.

Appearing today before U.S. District Court Judge John J. McConnell, Jr., Mierisch pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography, announced United States Attorney Aaron L. Weisman, Rhode Island State Police Superintendent Colonel James M. Manni, and Homeland Security Investigations Acting Special Agent in Charge Jason Molina.

Mierisch is scheduled to be sentenced on February 4, 2020.

This Project Safe Childhood case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Denise M. Barton.