Defendant Pleads Guilty to Possessing Child Sexual Abuse Material After HSI Investigation

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — A Rhode Island resident whose IP address was determined to have been used to receive and distribute child pornography has pleaded guilty to a charge of possession of child pornography after a lead from international law enforcement partners led Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New England to the subject.

Haley Lynn Rose, known at the time of arrest as Anthony Ninfo, 43, of West Warwick, admitted to possessing more than 220 images and 30 videos of child sexual abuse that were located on electronic devices owned by the defendant, who HSI special agents arrested on April 28, 2021.

According to information provided to the court, in September 2020, law enforcement in New Zealand executed a court-authorized search warrant and developed information indicating that an individual in Rhode Island was using a file sharing account to make available and distribute child sexual abuse material. Further investigation determined that the IP address belonged to the defendant.

On April 28, 2021, HSI special agents executed a court-authorized search of the defendant’s West Warwick residence and seized several media devices, a cellphone, and an external hard drive. HSI’s forensic analysis of the equipment revealed approximately 220 images and 35 videos of child pornography, including depictions of prepubescent children being sexually abused by adult men and women.

The defendant is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 17.

The matter was investigated by HSI New England’s Providence Resident Agent in Charge office, HSI Attaché Canberra in Australia, and the New Zealand Customs Service, with assistance from the Rhode Island State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

HSI is a global leader in the fight against child exploitation. Last year, HSI special agents dedicated 1.2 million case hours toward investigating child exploitation. This heinous crime harms the most vulnerable in our society: our kids. As technology evolves and more people have access to the internet, children are at a greater risk than ever. HSI’s special agents and analysts around the world are dedicated to countering this threat.

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.