Daniel Tocci of Amherst, Massachusetts, was sentenced on Mar. 30 to four years in federal prison for possessing more than 100,000 files of child sexual abuse material. U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni handed down the sentence in Springfield, Massachusetts, following Tocci’s guilty plea in September 2025.
The case highlights ongoing efforts by law enforcement to address the possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material and related violent content. Authorities say these crimes have a significant impact on victims and communities.
According to court documents, a search of Tocci’s residence in November 2023 revealed over 100,000 images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of minors stored across multiple devices. Some files showed sadistic or masochistic conduct involving children or toddlers. Investigators also found disturbing violent images unrelated to CSAM on his laptop, including acts involving animals and graphic violence against humans.
Tocci’s devices were also found to contain Google searches related to child sexual exploitation laws abroad. The government had recommended a sentence of nearly six years; however, Tocci received four years followed by five years of supervised release.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley announced the sentencing along with Ted E. Docks from the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Boston Division. The case received assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and Amherst Police Department.
This prosecution was part of Project Safe Childhood—a national initiative started by the Department of Justice in May 2006—to combat child exploitation crimes through coordination among federal, state, and local agencies.
