U.S. Department
of Justice
Multi Victim Case Notification
United States v. Richard Smith
3:21cr47(JAM)
Case Description:
On October 1, 2020, Richard Smith was arrested pursuant to a federal criminal complaint charging him with receipt and possession of child pornography, in violation of federal law. He appeared before Magistrate Judge Robert Richardson in Hartford, Connecticut and was ordered detained pending trial. On March 29, 2021, a federal grand jury sitting in New Haven, Connecticut returned an indictment charging Smith with receipt and possession of child pornography. Smith appeared again before Magistrate Judge Richardson and pleaded not guilty. He remains in custody.
On November 28, 2022, Richard Smith, 67, of Southington, Connecticut entered a guilty plea before U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Meyer in New Haven to possession of child pornography. According to court documents and statements made in court, Smith’s criminal history includes convictions related to his sexual assault of boys in 1990 and 1998. On October 1, 2020, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents conducted a court-authorized search of Smith’s Southington residence. At the time of the search, Smith’s computer was running and connected to a website dedicated to child pornography, and one of Smith’s four computer monitors displayed a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet containing numerous child pornography filenames and internet hyperlinks. Investigators seized Smith’s computer and electronic devices. Forensic analysis of the seized devices revealed millions of images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children.
On July 27, 2023, Richard Smith was sentenced to 12 years of imprisonment to be followed by 15 years of supervised release. A copy of the judgment order is enclosed on this page.
Court Documents:
Press Releases:
Sex Offender Who Possessed Millions Of Child Sex Abuse Images And Videos Pleads Guilty