Robert Barrie Guilty Plea
RHODE ISLAND MAN FACING 15 – 40 YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON ON CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CHARGES
PROVIDENCE – A former North Providence and Pawtucket resident found to be in possession of electronic storage devices containing more than 11,400 images of child pornography, including videos he produced that depict him sexually assaulting a minor female, is facing between 15-40 years in federal prison, having pleaded guilty on Tuesday to production and possession of child pornography.
Robert Barrie, 41, was arrested in May 2015 and in July 2017 by members of the Rhode Island State Police Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force after investigators discovered him sharing child pornography through online peer-to-peer networks from his then North Providence and Pawtucket residences, respectively.
Barrie’s arrest in July 2017 occurred while he was awaiting trial in Rhode Island state court on the child pornography charges brought in March 2015.
Barrie’s guilty plea in U.S. District Court to charges of production of child pornography and possession of child pornography is announced by United States Attorney Aaron L. Weisman, Superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police Colonel James M. Manni, and Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Peter C. Fitzhugh.
According to information presented to the Court, on May 7, 2015, members of the ICAC Task Force executed a court-authorized search of Barrie’s then North Providence residence. Several electronic devices were seized. Based on statements made to law enforcement by Barrie and evidence viewed during the court-authorized search, Barrie was arrested and charged in state court with possession of child pornography. About three weeks later, as investigators continued a forensic audit of Barrie’s electronic devices, investigators discovered a video which depicted Barrie sexually assaulting a minor female. Barrie was re-arrested by members of the ICAC task force on child molestation charges and released on bail following his arraignment.
In July 2017, while the state charges were still pending against Barrie, ICAC members observed peer-to-peer Internet traffic of child pornography files being shared from an IP address at a Pawtucket residence. When members of the ICAC task force arrived at the residence they learned that it was the then residence of Robert Barrie. Electronic devices seized from Barrie were found to contain child pornography.
Forensic examinations of all of the electronic devices seized from Barrie revealed approximately 11,450 images and videos of child pornography, including a video depicting Barrie engaged in sexual contact with a minor female.
Barrie is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge William E. Smith on August 23, 2019.
Production of child pornography is punishable by statutory penalties of 15-30 years imprisonment followed by a term of lifetime supervised release. Possession of child pornography is punishable by a statutory penalty of up to 10 years imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John P. McAdams.
The Rhode Island ICAC Task Force is comprised of members of the Rhode Island State Police Computer Crimes Unit along with detectives from the Warwick, Cranston, Newport, East Providence, Pawtucket, Bristol, North Kingstown, and Woonsocket Police Departments, and Homeland Security Investigations agents.