District of Massachusetts | Maine Man Sentenced to Thirteen Years in Prison for Child Exploitation
BOSTON — A Maine man was convicted in federal court in Boston today of traveling to have sex with a minor and possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
Patrick Plummer, 31, of Parsonsfield, Maine, was sentenced by US District Judge Casper to 13 years in prison and five years’ supervised release. In September 2022, Plummer pleaded guilty to one count of attempted seduction of a minor, one count of committing illegal sexual acts with a person under the age of 18, and one count of transporting child pornography. He has been in custody since his arrest on related state charges in September 2020.
“This case is another chilling reminder of the real dangers of the internet and the predators that lurk online with the sole intention of attacking, exploiting and sexualizing our children. Mr. Plummer, a grown man, admitted that he also targeted 10 other young girls. Extensive amounts of CSAM were discovered on his electronic devices, including the sexualization and torture of a two-year-old. It’s every parent’s nightmare,” said US Attorney Rachael S. Rollins. “Protecting the safety, innocence and well-being of our children is one of the most important jobs we do. Today’s verdict results in one less predator to harm our children.”
“It’s not uncommon for child criminals like Patrick Plummer to cast a wide net online to see who is responding and who they can bully. In this case, the FBI uncovered Mr. Plummer’s heinous behavior. Today’s ruling demonstrates our commitment to ensuring sex offenders like him are held accountable for their crimes and removing a dangerous threat from our community,” said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Acting Special Agent for the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division. “There are few situations more urgent than when a child is physically vulnerable. Those who sexually exploit children cause serious lasting harm, and possession and trafficking of child sexual abuse material only perpetuates the abuse.”
In September 2020, Plummer privately messaged an undercover officer posing as a 13-year-old girl in an online chat room. Plummer indicated that he was 24 and a resident of Maine. After confirming that the alleged minor was 13, Plummer devised a plan to meet her in Georgetown, Mass. to have sex and discussed specific sexual behaviors he wanted to engage in with her and rejected the alleged minors not to wear underwear.
On September 26, 2020, Plummer drove from Maine to a pre-arranged location in Georgetown. Plummer was arrested at the scene. At that time, four cell phones, a computer, and a spring-release knife were found in his possession. Forensic analysis of the electronic evidence confiscated from Plummer’s car revealed over 7,000 images and approximately 74 videos from CSAM on at least three of the devices. The CSAM contained several images of children as young as two years old being tortured.
Plummer admitted he had traveled from Maine to meet the alleged 13-year-old girl; that he spoke to about 10 underage girls; and that CSAM would be found on their devices. Plummer further admitted that he shared these pictures with other people via Kik Messenger. The investigation also revealed that prior to this case, Plummer had posed as a 19-year-old woman on Kik Messenger to solicit photos of underage girls for distribution to other users — in some cases using graphic threats such as “I’ll cut you into a million pieces.” hack” to force minors to share pictures with him.
US Attorney Rollins, FBI SAC Bonavolonta and Georgetown Police Commissioner Donald C. Cudmore made the announcement. The Essex County Attorney’s Office and the Salisbury and Newbury Police Departments assisted in the investigation. Assistant US Attorneys Meghan C. Cleary and J. Mackenzie Duane of Rollins’ Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the Justice Department in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the US Attorney’s offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Division, Project Safe Childhood provides federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute child exploiters and victims to identify and rescue. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
