A Caribou resident, Devin Madigan, has pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Bangor to charges of possessing child pornography. The case emerged after the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received a tip from Kik, a messaging app, in April 2022. The tip indicated that a user had uploaded videos containing child sexual abuse material involving victims as young as one to three years old. The account was traced back to Madigan, aged 29.
A forensic investigation of Madigan's phone uncovered images and videos depicting child sexual abuse material. He now faces up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and five years to life of supervised release. Additionally, he may be required to pay restitution to the victims. A federal district judge will determine the sentence after reviewing the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), with support from the Grafton County Sheriff's Department and the Brewer Police Department.
Child sexual abuse material is legally referred to as "child pornography" and involves documenting the exploitation and abuse of children. In 2023 alone, NCMEC received 36 million reports related to such materials' possession, manufacture, or distribution.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse nationwide. The project seeks to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals exploiting children online while identifying and rescuing victims.
For more information on Project Safe Childhood or how to report incidents involving child sexual abuse material, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/psc or contact NCMEC through their website or hotline.