Two women facing federal charges in child porn case
Two Rhode Island women were charged for their roles in allegedly producing, distributing, and possessing child pornography involving a toddler, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced.
Samantha York, 29, with addresses in Pawtucket and Warwick, was ordered detained in federal custody on a criminal complaint charging her with production and distribution of child pornography, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said. According to information presented in U.S. District Court in Providence, York allegedly produced a video depicting child pornography
involving a female toddler in March 2014. That video was allegedly distributed to at least two people, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.
In a separate federal criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court, Karissa A. Cave, 21, with addresses in Coventry and Newport, was charged with one count each of receiving child pornography and possession of child pornography, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. According to court information, Cave allegedly received and possessed the child pornography involving the young girl, which had been allegedly produced and distributed by York.
York made an initial appearance before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Lincoln D. Almond last Thursday. She was ordered detained in federal custody. Cave, meanwhile, was released on $10,000 unsecured bond following an initial appearance before Almond last Thursday.
This case started in Woonsocket with the investigation of another individual who was not federally charged, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.
Woonsocket Police Sgt. Matthew Ryan explained that the department was able to obtain information relevant to an investigation into solicitation of a child thanks to a program modeled after the television show “To Catch a Predator.” Woonsocket Police have used that model to arrest nearly 20 people who allegedly “desired to have sexual relations with a 14-year-old,” Ryan said.
As a result of that investigation, Woonsocket Police last December arrested John Adams of Scituate and charged him with two counts of electric dissemination of a child and single counts of indecent solicitation of a child and child pornography, Ryan said. During the interview process with Adams, Woonsocket Police were able to obtain information regarding York, Ryan said.
The matters continue to be investigated by the the Rhode Island State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, Homeland Security Investigations, and Woonsocket Police Department.