Rhode Island man pleads guilty to distributing child pornography

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — A southeastern Rhode Island man pleaded guilty in federal court Wednesday to distributing child pornography

This guilty plea resulted from an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) and the Rhode Island State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC).

Adam C. Cobb, 47, of Portsmouth, Rhode Island, pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of child pornography. Cobb was arrested in April 2015.

According to court documents and information presented to the court, in January 2015, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) reported to law enforcement that an individual in Rhode Island uploaded images of child pornography to Tumblr.com. The investigation determined that an Internet address at Adam Cobb's residence was used to upload the images.

On March 5, 2015, law enforcement agents, executed a search warrant at Cobb's residence and seized various digital media, computers and cell phones. Cobb was out of the country at the time of the search and was stopped by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) upon his return from Japan. CBP officers seized an additional cell phone at the Dallas/Ft. Worth airport as Cobb cleared through customs.

A forensic examination of the digital media and devices seized resulted in the discovery of photos and videos of child pornography depicting two juvenile females. Authorities were later able to determine the identity of both females and that both were known to Mr. Cobb.

Cobb is currently free on $1 million bond. His sentencing is scheduled for May 19, 2016 in Providence.

This investigation was conducted under HSI's Operation Predator, an international initiative to protect children from sexual predators. Since the launch of Operation Predator in 2003, HSI has arrested more than 14,000 individuals for crimes against children, including the production and distribution of online child pornography, traveling overseas for sex with minors, and sex trafficking of children. In fiscal year 2015, nearly 2,400 individuals were arrested by HSI special agents under this initiative and more than 1,000 victims identified or rescued.

HSI encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free Tip Line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE or by completing its online tip form. Both are staffed around the clock by investigators. From outside the U.S. and Canada, callers should dial 802-872-6199. Hearing impaired users can call TTY 802-872-6196.

Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, an Operation Predator partner, via its toll-free 24-hour hotline, 1-800-THE-LOST.

For additional information about wanted suspected child predators, download HSI's Operation Predator smartphone app or visit the online suspect alerts page.