Kiwi detectives help jail Florida man for child pornography in global sting

Robert Sciolino was sentenced in Tampa, Florida, to 10 years in prison for receipt and possession of child pornography. Photo / File

Work by covert online New Zealand detectives has contributed to the sentencing of a Florida man for possessing child pornography.

On June 11, Robert Sciolino was sentenced in Tampa, Florida, to 10 years in prison for receipt and possession of child pornography.

The court also ordered the 51-year-old to pay $57,000 in restitution to the victims and forfeit six electronic devices that he had used in the commission of the offence.

In June 2014, New Zealand detectives operating covertly online as part of their involvement in the FBI's Violent Crimes Against Children International Taskforce (VCACITF) received multiple files depicting child pornography from Sciolino.

Later US law enforcement executed a search warrant at Sciolino's residence and recovered two computers and two flash drives.

Forensic analysis of the devices revealed 354 images and 619 videos of child pornography.

Some of the images and videos depicted children as young as three years old being sexually abused.

Between December 2015 and January 2016, undercover FBI agents downloaded multiple files depicting child pornography from a user that was connected to the internet using unsecured wireless routers.

The user, Sciolino, was tracked and found to be actively downloading child pornography in his car at a grocery store parking lot in Bradenton, Tampa, Florida.

Forensic analysis of these devices recovered from Sciolino's car revealed 1,539 images and 81 videos of child pornography.

Detective Senior Sergeant John Michael of the Police Covert Online Team said the involvement New Zealand law enforcement had in this investigation was a great example of the high level of co-operation shown between international law enforcement agencies when it comes to fighting online child exploitation.

Michael said New Zealand is seen by international partners as a shining light when it comes to law enforcement co-operation, with police, the Department of Internal Affairs and Customs working closely together in identifying victims and bringing offenders to justice.

This case was a joint investigation by the Brandenton Police Department, the FBI, and the New Zealand Police.