An Everett resident, Robert Sokolowski, pleaded guilty on September 10, 2025, in federal court in Boston to charges related to possession, distribution, and receipt of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). The offenses occurred within months after Sokolowski was released from federal prison.
Sokolowski, age 52, admitted guilt to one count each of possession of child pornography, distribution of child pornography, and receipt of child pornography. Sentencing is scheduled for December 17, 2025 before U.S. District Court Judge F. Dennis Saylor.
In September 2024, Sokolowski lost his cell phone while riding an MBTA Green Line trolley. An employee who found the phone discovered images of CSAM while trying to identify the owner. Authorities later determined that the device contained hundreds of images and videos depicting CSAM involving children as young as toddlers.
This marks Sokolowski’s third federal conviction for CSAM-related crimes. He was first convicted in 2005 for possession of CSAM and sentenced to 46 months in prison. A second conviction followed in 2015 with a sentence of 150 months in prison. The most recent offenses were committed seven months after his release from the previous sentence.
Due to his prior convictions, Sokolowski faces a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years and up to twenty years in prison for possession of child pornography. The charges for receipt and distribution carry a mandatory minimum sentence of fifteen years and up to forty years in prison. Each charge also includes at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release as well as potential fines up to $250,000. Sentences are determined by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and relevant statutes.
“United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement today. Special assistance was provided by the MBTA Transit Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Maynard of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.”
The prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood, a national initiative started by the Department of Justice in May 2006 aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse through coordination among federal, state, and local agencies. More information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at https://www.justice.gov/psc.
