Date: 05-08-2025

Case Style:

United States of America v. Royce Cosmo Fuoco

Case Number: 5:24-CR-229

Judge: Richard E. Myers II

Court: The United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina (New Hanover County)

Plaintiff's Attorney: The United States Attorney’s Office om Wilmington

Defendant's Attorney:

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Description:

Wilmington, North Carolina criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with Distributing Child Sexual Abuse Material Online
Former Firefighter Sentenced for Distributing Child Sexual Abuse Material Online

A former volunteer firefighter from Wake Forest was sentenced to more than 12 years (151 months) in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release for distribution, receipt and possession of child sexual abuse material. Royce Cosmo Fuoco, 49, plead guilty on October 8, 2024, to ten counts of Distribution of Child Sexual Abuse Material, one count of Receipt of Child Sexual Abuse Material, and one count of Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material.

Fuoco was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) after receiving a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) that someone with the username “ncfirefighter07” on the social media application Kik had distributed at least 30 videos containing child sexual abuse material. Law enforcement executed a search warrant for the Kik account and found that user “ncfirefighter07” had 441 instances of distribution of child sexual abuse material to both individuals and groups on the Kik platform. Law enforcement linked that Kik account to Royce Fuoco, a former volunteer firefighter for the Wake Forest Fire Department.

Law enforcement executed a search warrant at Fuoco’s house. Several digital devices seized contained child sexual abuse material and evidence of his distribution of the material. Fuoco admitted to law enforcement that he obtained child sexual abuse material in Kik chat groups. Fuoco said he was bored while working from home, and he would obtain the child sexual abuse material and then send it to other users.

Daniel P. Bubar, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II. The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Charity Wilson prosecuted the case.

Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:24-CR-229.

Outcome:

Defendant was found guilty and sentenced to more than 12 years (151 months) in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release

Plaintiff's Experts:

Defendant's Experts:

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