Connecticut Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possessing Child Sex Abuse Images and Videos Following HSI Investigation

NEW HAVEN, Conn. — A Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New England case resulting from an international law enforcement tip led to a two-year sentence for a Connecticut man who possessed child exploitation material.

Christopher Bates Jr., 37, of Greenwich, was sentenced May 29 by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in New Haven to 24 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for possessing images and videos of child sexual abuse.

According to court documents and statements made in court, an international law enforcement investigation revealed that an IP address at Bates’ residence was being used to access the dark web to view images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children. On Nov. 30, 2022, HSI special agents interviewed Bates, who consented to a search of his electronic devices. A forensic review of one of his laptops revealed approximately 1,222 images and two videos depicting the sexual abuse of children, including infants.

Bates is an attorney admitted to practice in New York and Connecticut.

As part of his sentence, Bates was ordered to pay restitution of $15,000, an assessment of $17,000 to fund the Child Pornography Victims Reserve fund, and additional assessments of $5,100.

HSI special agents arrested Bates on Dec. 13, 2022. On Feb. 7, 2024, he pleaded guilty to possessing and accessing with intent to view child pornography.

Bates, who is released on a $300,000 bond under electronic monitoring, is required to report to prison on July 11.

This matter was investigated by HSI with the assistance of the Greenwich Police Department.

Report suspected child exploitation to the HSI tip line at 877-4-HSI-TIP or through the CyberTipline on the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children's website.