A Pawtucket resident, Gary Ethier, age 60, pleaded guilty in federal court in Rhode Island to charges of distribution and possession of child pornography. The plea was announced by Acting United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom.
Ethier admitted to knowingly accessing, possessing, and distributing child pornography. Sentencing is scheduled for March 5, 2026. A federal district judge will determine the sentence after reviewing the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other relevant factors.
Court documents indicate that in November 2024, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Cyber Crimes Center received information that Ethier was engaged in online discussions about the sexual exploitation of minors and had sent multiple images of child pornography to another individual. On December 2, 2024, HSI agents and members of the Rhode Island Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force searched Ethier’s home. Authorities found more than 600 images depicting child pornography on his electronic devices.
Assistant United States Attorney Peter Roklan is prosecuting the case. The investigation was conducted by HSI and the ICAC Task Force.
The prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section to address child sexual exploitation and abuse. Project Safe Childhood brings together federal, state, and local resources to locate offenders and help victims. More information can be found at https://www.justice.gov/psc
Individuals can report suspected online child sexual exploitation or abuse through the Know2Project Tipline at 1-833-591-KNOW (5669) or via the NCMEC CyberTipline at https://report.cybertip.org/