Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (b)
PORTLAND, Maine: A Windham man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Portland to distribution and possession of child pornography.
According to court records, in October 2023, Cote Noonan, 33, using the username “Femboy Cassidy,” sent an undercover FBI agent three child sexual abuse material videos using the instant messaging application TeleGuard. The videos showed the sexual abuse of young victims, including an infant. The agent also observed “Femboy Cassidy” share similar photos and videos on two other occasions in a trading room for child sexual abuse material. During the investigation, Noonan admitted to operating the “Femboy Cassidy” account and informed law enforcement that they would find child sexual abuse material on his devices. The FBI seized several devices from Noonan’s residence, four of which contained thousands of known child sexual abuse material images and videos. Many of these images and videos showed the sexual abuse of toddlers and infants.
Noonan faces no less than five years and up to 20 years in prison and a fine up to $250,000 on the distribution of child pornography charge, to be followed by five years to life of supervised release. He faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine up to $250,000 on the charge of possession of child pornography involving a prepubescent minor, to be followed by five years to life of supervised release. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI investigated the case.
To report an incident involving the possession, distribution, receipt or production of child pornography: Child sexual abuse material – referred to in legal terms as “child pornography” – captures the sexual abuse and exploitation of children. These images document victims’ exploitation and abuse, and they suffer revictimization every time the images are viewed. In 2023, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children received 36 million reports of the possession, manufacture, or distribution of child sexual abuse materials. To file a report with NCMEC, go to https://report.cybertip.org or call 1-800-843-5678. If you are in Maine and you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted or abused, you can get help by calling the free, private 24-hour statewide sexual assault helpline at 1-800-871-7741.
Project Safe Childhood: This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/psc.
###