BOSTON - A Shrewsbury man was charged late yesterday in federal court with producing child pornography and engaging in sex with a minor in the Dominican Republic.
In the indictment, Conrad Gallant, 61, previously of Winchendon and most recently of Shrewsbury, was charged with sexual exploitation of children and engaging in illicit sexual conduct in foreign places.
In March 2012, Gallant was charged in a criminal complaint with engaging in illicit sexual conduct in foreign places. Yesterday’s indictment brought a charge of production of child pornography in addition to the sex tourism charge.
The indictment alleges that between February 2011 and February 2012, Gallant traveled to the Dominican Republic, engaged in sexual acts with a minor, and engaged the sexual conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of the conduct. According to court documents, Gallant engaged in a sexual relationship with a then 14-year-old girl, promised and paid her money, and took photographs of her. Also, according to the same court documents, Gallant asked the minor victim to bring him other female minors with whom he could have sex.
Law enforcement in the Dominican Republic arrested Gallant on March 4, 2012. Gallant arrived in the Miami, FL on March 6, 2012, and was arrested by DHS’ Homeland Security Investigations.
If convicted, Gallant faces up to 60 years in prison to be followed by up to lifetime supervised release and a $250,000 fine.
United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz; Bruce Foucart, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Boston; Worcester County District Attorney Joseph Early; and Colonel Marian McGovern, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police (MSP), made the announcement today. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael I. Yoon of Ortiz's Major Crimes Unit.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office would like to extend its appreciation to HSI’s attaché in Santo Domingo, Dominican Tourist Police (Politur), Dominican Prosecutors in Higuey and Santo Domingo, Dominican Migration and HSI's Santo Domingo Transnational Criminal Investigative Unit members for their assistance and cooperation. The case is being investigated by HSI Boston with assistance from the MSP Detective Unit assigned to DA Early’s Office and MSP troopers from the Forensic Unit.
The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
