Level III Sex Offender Sentenced to Ten Years in Prison for Possessing Child Pornography

PROVIDENCE, RI - A level III sex offender who has four prior state convictions on child pornography charges has now been sentenced to ten years in federal prison for additional federal child pornography offenses, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.

In July 2023, less than one month after being released from state prison after completing a four-year term of incarceration, Patrick M. O'Donnell, 63, was found to be in possession of two cellphones, in violation of the conditions of the terms of his state probation, which forensic review determined to have been used to access child pornography.

O'Donnell pleaded guilty in federal court on April 8, 2024, to a charge of possession of child pornography. He was sentenced today by U.S. District Court William E. Smith to 10 years of incarceration to be followed by lifetime federal supervised release.

The case in federal court was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John P. McAdams, with the assistance of Assistant U.S. Attorney Milind M. Shah.

The matter was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Rhode Island State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, Cranston Police, and the Rhode Island Department of Corrections, Probation and Parole.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the DOJ's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc

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