Springfield Man Charged with Child Pornography Offenses

BOSTON – A Springfield man was charged yesterday in federal court in Springfield with child pornography offenses.

Ross Lopata, 32, was charged in a criminal complaint with receipt and possession of child pornography. Lopata was detained following an initial appearance in federal court in Springfield yesterday.

The complaint alleges that between June 2019 and June 11, 2020, Lopata received and possessed child pornography.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Michael Shea, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex J. Grant of Lelling’s Springfield Branch Unit is prosecuting the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

The details contained in the criminal complaint are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.