United States of America v. Matthew Ryan O’Connell

St. Louis, Missouri criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with possessing and transporting child pornography.



A St. Louis County Police Department sergeant was investigating the use of online and cell phone apps to distribute child pornography in 2020 when someone contacted his undercover profile on "Grindr.” Matthew Ryan O'Connell, 31, told the sergeant that he was into young boys and said he had a collection of child sexual abuse material. He later sent images containing child sexual abuse material via the Kik and Wickr apps.



The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children also notified the St. Louis County Police Department that someone had used Snapchat to send images containing child sexual abuse material. A detective traced the material to O'Connell and applied for a search warrant. A Homeland Security Investigations agent, who was also investigating O'Connell, joined the search. Investigators found child sexual abuse material on O'Connell's two cell phones and the laptop he hid under a treadmill when officers arrived to perform the search.



O'Connell pleaded guilty in May to one felony count each of transportation of child pornography and possession of child pornography. The transportation charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison.



The St. Louis County Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carrie Costantin prosecuted the case.

Defendant plead guilty to counts one and two of a two-count Indictment on may 1, 2023 and is committed to the US-BOP for a term of 60 months. Recommendations made to the US-BOP. Once released, defendant placed on supervised release for LIFE with mandatory, standard, and special conditions. $200.00 special assessment due immediately. Defendant ordered to pay $10,000.00 in restitution, and has forfeited all interest in the property identified in the forfeiture order dated August 14, 2023. Defendant remanded to the custody of the USMS. See judgment for full details.