A 32-year-old Putnam man has been arrested and charged with the receipt, distribution and possession of child pornography, according to the U.S Department of Justice.
Police searched Darrick Collette's residence Thursday morning following a federal criminal complaint filed by the FBI. Officers seized a computer and several external hard drives. Collette was subsequently arrested, said a Dept. of Justice spokesperson.
Collette appeared in court Thursday afternoon and is being held until a July 18 hearing. If convicted of child pornography receipt and distribution, Collette could face up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. If convicted of possession, he could face an additional 20 years and $250,000, the Dept. of Justice said.
The penalties have been extended because the content includes footage of minors under 12 engaging in sex acts, according to the Dept. of Justice.
The FBI and Connecticut Child Exploitation Task Force are heading up the investigation, with help from the Connecticut State Police and Putnam Police Department.
The complaint was filed on March 19 when an FBI agent found pornographic content linked to Collette's IP address, the Justice Department said.
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