HSI Washington, D.C. Investigation Leads to Conviction for Virginia Man for Possessing Child Sexual Abuse Material

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — An investigation conducted by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington, D.C. led to a conviction for a 38-year-old Woodbridge resident on charges of receipt and possession of child sexual abuse material. The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia convicted Matthew Scott Rocco June 22 at the district courthouse in Alexandria.

“Matthew Scott Rocco represented a significant threat to the children of our Virginia communities,” said HSI Washington, D.C. Special Agent in Charge Derek W. Gordon. “He was engaging in an industry that profits from the abuse and victimization of our most vulnerable population. HSI Washington, D.C. will continue to work tirelessly to investigate and apprehend anyone engaging in such loathsome behavior.”

According to the investigation, on April 23, 2023, agents with HSI Washington, D.C. executed a federal search warrant at Rocco’s residence. At the time of the search, Rocco was on federal supervised release for a 2017 conviction for possession of child sexual abuse material. HSI agents and officers from the U.S. Probation Department encountered Rocco on the driveway exiting the garage of the residence and located a cellphone in his back pocket. His phone was seized and subsequently searched.

Authorities discovered that the phone contained darknet addresses, most of which provided links to child sexual abuse material. The phone contained a download history database showing filenames and thumbnails indicative of this type of material. It also contained thumbnail images of Rocco’s personal documents, such as payroll records and other files. A folder titled “Balalaika_1,” contained 10 videos, downloaded on Feb. 16 and 17, 2023, each depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. The phone kept a history of what videos had been played that included files indicative of child sexual abuse material. The files Rocco accessed included child sexual abuse material ranging from Jan. 23, 2023, to April 21, 2023, two days before the federal search. The search also revealed that several files with names indicative of child sexual abuse material were viewed on the phone using an external drive.

Rocco’s sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 31. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and up to 40 years in prison.

This investigation was conducted by HSI Washington, D.C. with assistance from the U.S. Probation Department. The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.

Anyone with information about child sexual abuse material or other crimes is highly encouraged to contact HSI Tip Line at 877-4-HSI-TIP. Callers may remain anonymous.

Learn more about HSI Washington, D.C.’s mission to increase public safety in our Virginia communities on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @HSI_DC.