Taunton Man Charged With Child Pornography Offense

 Defendant has prior federal conviction for possession of child pornography

BOSTON – A Taunton man was arrested on Wednesday, May 19, 2021 and charged with possession of child pornography.

Rudy Frabizio, 59, was charged by criminal complaint with one count of possession of child pornography. Frabizio was detained following an initial appearance yesterday in federal court in Boston. U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Marianne B. Bowler scheduled a probable cause and detention hearing for May 25, 2021.

According to charging documents, during a search of Frabizio’s residence, agents found at least 465 images and videos depicting child pornography. It is also alleged that Frabizio uploaded images depicting child pornography via his Google account. Frabizio is a registered Level 2 sex offender due to an April 2009 conviction for possession of child pornography.

The charge of possession of child pornography provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Due to prior his prior conviction, Frabizio faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years in prison if he is convicted. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell and William S. Walker, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston made the announcement today. The Taunton Police Department provided valuable assistance with the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Deitch of Mendell’s Major Crimes Unit 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 www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

The details contained in the criminal complaint are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.