Lancaster Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material

CONCORD - A Lancaster man was sentenced in federal court for possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.

Olin Garneau, 37, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Landya McCafferty to 14 months in federal prison and 15 years of supervised release. Garneau waived indictment and pleaded guilty in February to a one-count information charging him with possession of child pornography.

"Those who distribute CSAM cause compounding harm to children who have already endured unspeakable trauma," said U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young. "The United States Attorney's Office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to hold these offenders accountable for their crimes and provide justice to their survivors."

"Garneau thought he was talking to another online predator who shared his interest in the sexual abuse of children. Instead, he found an undercover HSI task force officer," said Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Krol for Homeland Security Investigations in New England. "HSI is proud to work every day with our partners to find the criminals who produce, trade, and possess child sexual abuse material. Above all, our goal is to protect kids."

Garneau corresponded with an undercover law enforcement officer through an online chat platform. During the chats, Garneau discussed with the officer topics related to the sexual exploitation of children. Garneau also sent the undercover officer an image of CSAM, and a link to approximately 100 additional CSAM files online. More CSAM was located on Garneau's cell phone following the execution of a search warrant at his residence.

Homeland Security Investigations led the federal investigation. The Nashua Police Department, the New Hampshire Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the New Hampshire State Police and the Lancaster Police Department provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kasey Weiland is prosecuting the case.

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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