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Date: 04-23-2021
Case Style:
Case Number: 1:21-cr-00025-CFC
Judge: Colm F. Connolly
Court: United States District Court for the District of Delaware (New Castle County)
Plaintiff's Attorney: United States District Attorney’s Office
Defendant's Attorney:
Description: Wilmington, Delaware criminal defense lawyer represented defendant charged with possessing prepubescent child pornography.
Joseph J. Leonetti, Jr., Former Union President of the Wilmington Fire Department, pled guilty before the Honorable Colm F. Connolly to possessing prepubescent child pornography, announced David C. Weiss, U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware. Mr. Leonetti faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison when sentenced on August 24, 2021. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
According to publicly filed documents and statements made in open court, law enforcement officers executed a federal search warrant at Leonetti’s Wilmington residence on June 19, 2020, and seized his personal cellphone. After a later forensic review of that cellphone, investigators found nine videos and more than 500 cached images of child pornography. A cache is a reserved storage location that collects temporary data for easy retrieval. Also, in the cellphone’s “Notes” app, investigators found links to folders associated with cloud-based file storage services Dropbox and Mega. Investigators were able to recover the contents of four linked folders, containing over 2,000 images and 800 videos of child pornography. The child pornography found on the defendant’s cellphone and in the linked folders included depictions of prepubescent minors engaged in various sexual acts and the lascivious exhibition of their genitals.
U.S. Attorney David C. Weiss stated as follows: “The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware is committed to protecting the most vulnerable among us—our children—from the abhorrent shadow industry that produces, distributes, and collects child pornography and from those who lurk in its base marketplace. This Office fulfills its commitment without regard to the occupation or privilege of the wrongdoer. No one is above the law.”
“The defendant, while in a position of trust as the former Wilmington Fire Department Union President, possessed depictions of the sexual exploitation of prepubescent children,” said Brian A. Michael, Special Agent in Charge for Homeland Security Investigations Philadelphia. The innocent children in these images will have to deal with the impact of this tragedy for the rest of their lives. We hope today’s plea brings them some measure of justice.”
Homeland Security Investigations investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Graham L. Robinson prosecuted the case.
18:2252(a)(4)(B), 2252(b)(2), and 2256 - POSSESSION OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY - ( COUNT I - 6/19/2020 )
(1)
Outcome: 04/21/2021 6 WAIVER OF INDICTMENT by Joseph J. Leonetti, Jr (fms) (Entered: 04/22/2021)
04/21/2021 Minute Entry for proceedings held before Judge Colm F. Connolly - Defendant was present with counsel. Arraignment/Plea hearing held as to Joseph J. Leonetti Jr. (1); Govt. filed an executed Memorandum of Plea Agreement and Waiver of Indictment; Deft. was sworn and questioned by the Court; Deft. entered a plea of guilty to Count I of the Felony Information; Guilty Count 1. Guilty Plea accepted. Deft. waived reading of the Felony Information. (Court Reporter V. Gunning.) (fms) (Entered: 04/22/2021)
04/21/2021 7 MEMORANDUM OF PLEA AGREEMENT as to Joseph J. Leonetti, Jr (fms) (Entered: 04/22/2021)
04/21/2021 8 Sealed Document (To be maintained on file in Clerk's Office) (fms) (Entered: 04/22/2021)
04/21/2021 9 ORDER Setting Conditions of Release. Signed by Judge Colm F. Connolly on 4/21/2021. (fms) (Entered: 04/22/2021)
04/21/2021 10 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF RECEIPT of United States of America passport issued to Joseph J. Leonetti, Jr. (fms) (Entered: 04/22/2021)
04/21/2021 11 ORDER SCHEDULING SENTENCING as to Joseph J. Leonetti, Jr. Sentencing is set for 8/24/2021 at 12:00 PM in Courtroom 4B before Judge Colm F. Connolly. Signed by Judge Colm F. Connolly on 4/21/2021. (fms) (Entered: 04/22/2021)
Plaintiff's Experts:
Defendant's Experts:
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