HSI, Rhode Island ICAC Investigation Leads to 24-Year Sentence for Man Who Produced and Possessed Child Sexual Abuse Material

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — An investigation by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New England and the Rhode Island Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task force led to a 24-year prison sentence on Aug. 15 for a Cranston man for producing and possessing sexually explicit images and videos involving a girl under the age of 10.

Gregory Phillips, 42, pleaded guilty on Jan. 31 to charges of production of child pornography and possession of child pornography.

Phillips previously admitted to the court that, on multiple occasions beginning in late 2021, he produced child sexual abuse material and sexually abused a young girl left in his care. Court documents detail that, over a nine-month period, Phillips produced 61 images and four videos of child sexual abuse while abusing his victim.

“Phillips forever changed the trajectory of the life of his victim. Nothing can undo what he has done but we hope that this sentence brings a measure of justice and marks the end of this chapter,” said HSI New England Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Krol. “Through our partnerships with state and local partners like the Rhode Island ICAC and Cranston Police, we work every day to bring predators like Phillips to account for their horrific crimes.”

“It is hard to overstate the repugnance of this defendant’s conduct — not only did he betray the trust placed in him by sexually assaulting a young victim in his case, but he chose to memorialize that abuse for his own revolting gratification,” said U.S. Attorney for the District of Rhode Island Zachary A. Cunha. “Today, thanks to exceptional investigative work by Homeland Security, the Rhode Island State Police and the Cranston Police Department, he faces a sentence that he has richly earned.”

Phillips first came to the attention of law enforcement when members of the Rhode Island ICAC Task Force reviewed a report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children indicating that an individual in Rhode Island had possessed and transferred child sexual abuse material. Further investigation by the ICAC Task Force and a Cranston Police detective determined that the images and videos were being transferred from an account linked to Phillips’ phone number.

HSI conducted a forensic review of images and videos located on cellphones seized from Phillips by law enforcement, which resulted in the discovery of the images created by Phillips in the course of his abuse, as well as additional child sexual abuse material.

The matter was investigated by the ICAC Task Force, with the assistance of HSI New England’s Providence Resident Agent in Charge office and the Cranston Police Department.

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.