Scott Brochu Charged With Transportation and Possession of Child Pornography

The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that Scott Brochu, 47, of Essex, was charged yesterday by Indictment with unlawfully transporting child pornography, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252(a)(1), and possessing child pornography, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252(a)(4)(B).  Brochu was arrested this morning near his residence in Essex, Vermont, and will appear this afternoon in federal court in Burlington.  Brochu’s arrest was a result of an operation conducted by Vermont’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (VT-ICAC) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) during the week of May 13, 2019.

If convicted, the defendant faces a minimum of five years and a maximum of twenty years of imprisonment on the transportation allegation, and a maximum of ten years of imprisonment on the possession allegation.  The actual sentence however, would be determined by the Court with guidance from the advisory Federal Sentencing Guidelines.  The United States Attorney emphasizes that the charges in the Indictment are merely accusations, and that the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until he is proven guilty.

United States Attorney Christina E. Nolan commended the investigative efforts and collaboration of the Vermont’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (VT-ICAC) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

VT-ICAC was formed in 2008. The Vermont Attorney General’s Office assumed responsibility for managing VT-ICAC in October of 2015.  Since October of 2015, VT-ICAC has performed 915 investigations, received 834 CyberTips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and arrested 125 individuals for crimes against children. VT-ICAC also works extensively to educate Vermont communities about internet safety. In the past three years, VT-ICAC conducted 2,032 educational forums around the state. 

The operation during the week of May 13 was a collaborative effort involving the Vermont Attorney General’s Office, the Vermont State Police, Homeland Security Investigations, the Vermont U.S. Attorney’s Office, Burlington Police Department, South Burlington Police Department, Chittenden Unit for Special Investigations, Orange County Sheriff’s Department, and the University of Vermont Police Services.

The United States is represented in this matter by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Ophardt.  Defendant Brochu is represented by Craig Nolan, Esq., of the law firm Sheehey Furlong, and Behm.