BOSTON — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (USAO - Massachusetts), published as received.
BOSTON – A Fitchburg man was sentenced today for possessing at least 600 images and 200 videos of child pornography.
Leonel Ramon Grullon, 44, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin to five years in prison, five years of supervised release and restitution. In January 2015, Grullon pleaded guilty to transporting and possessing child pornography.
On May 24, 2014, Grullon landed at Logan International Airport, returning from a trip to the Philippines. During a customs examination, child pornography was found on Grullon’s tablet device. Additional images and videos of child pornography were located on Grullon’s smartphone.
During questioning, Grullon initially denied knowledge that he was in possession of child pornography. After officers described the video located on the Samsung tablet, Grullon admitted possessing and downloading the file and to downloading child pornography from the internet. Grullon stated that he watched child pornography and bestiality videos on different websites, some of which he downloaded to his phone and his desktop computer at his home. Grullon also stated that he had engaged in sexual activity with a 17-year-old boy while in the Philippines.
During a search executed at Grullon’s residence in Fitchburg, forensic examination of Grullon’s numerous digital devices, including computers, DVDs, and hard drives, revealed a substantial collection of child pornography, totaling at least 600 images and 200 videos, largely depicting boys aged 6 to 10-years-old engaged in sexually explicit conduct, including lewd and lascivious posing, sexual acts, and sado-masochistic bondage.
The United States Attorney’s Office asked the Court to impose a 78 month prison sentence. The defense requested a 60 month prison sentence, which was the lowest sentence allowed by law. The United States argued that the imposition of the lowest sentence allowed by law would send the wrong message to victims and those contemplating committing such crimes. In his comments, Judge Sorokin noted that he was imposing the 60 month sentence not because it was the lowest allowed by law, but because he believed it was a fair sentence.
United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz and Bruce M. Foucart, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston made the announcement today. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David G. Tobin of Ortiz’s Major Crimes Unit.
