PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Sami-Joe Daou, 27, of Warwick, pleaded guilty in federal court in Providence Thursday to possessing and distributing child pornography, and faces 5-20 years in federal prison at his sentencing in February.
A joint federal, state and local law enforcement investigation determined that Daou possessed images of child pornography, some of which he shared via Facebook.
Appearing before U.S. District Court Chief Judge William E. Smith, Daou pleaded guilty to one count of possession of visual depiction of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct and one count of distribution of a visual depiction of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
Daou’s guilty plea was announced United States Attorney Peter F. Neronha; Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division; Acting Colonel Ann C. Assumpico, Superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police; and Cranston Police Chief Colonel Michael J. Winquist.
According to information presented to the court, in March 2015, the defendant stored sexually explicit images involving a pre-teenage female on his computer. At least one of the images was shared on Facebook. Also, in July 2015, Daou stored three sexually explicit video files on his computer  depicting sexual contact he had with a 17-year-old female.
Daou is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 24, 2017. Distribution of child pornography is punishable by a statutory penalty of up to 20 years imprisonment, with a mandatory minimum term of 5 years imprisonment; possession of child pornography is punishable by a statutory penalty of up to 10 years imprisonment. Daou also faces a maximum life term of supervised release.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Milind M. Shah.
The matter was investigated by the Rhode Island State Police Computer Crimes Unit, the Cranston Police Department, and the FBI.
Author: Rob Borkowski
Rob has worked as reporter and editor for several publications, including The Kent County Daily Times and Coventry Courier, before working for Gatehouse in MA then moving home with Patch Media. Now he's publisher and editor of WarwickPost.com. Contact him at [email protected] with tips, press releases, advertising inquiries, and concerns.
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