Francis T. DiCaprio, 30, of Amsterdam, New York, pleaded guilty to charges of distributing and possessing child pornography. The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office for the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
According to authorities, DiCaprio admitted that between June 2023 and February 2024 he used messaging applications to receive and distribute child sexual abuse material (CSAM), which he stored on his cell phone. During these exchanges, DiCaprio falsely claimed that he was sexually abusing an 8-year-old child known to him.
Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III stated, “DiCaprio committed these abhorrent crimes while vividly describing sexual abuse he fantasized about inflicting on a child he knew. I am grateful to the FBI for finding this disgusting and dangerous individual, getting him off the street and away from children, and bringing him to justice.”
FBI Special Agent in Charge Craig L. Tremaroli said: “Mr. DiCaprio’s guilty plea ensures he will now spend years in federal prison for his despicable actions. The FBI is committed to working with our law enforcement partners to swiftly investigate any individual who knowingly possesses and distributes detrimental images that re-victimize our most vulnerable every time they are circulated.”
Sentencing is scheduled for December 15, 2025. For the distribution charge, DiCaprio faces a minimum sentence of five years in prison with a maximum of twenty years; for possession, up to twenty years. He may also be fined up to $250,000 and could receive supervised release ranging from five years up to life. Sentencing will be determined by a judge based on applicable statutes and U.S. Sentencing Guidelines as well as other factors. Upon release from prison, DiCaprio will be required to register as a sex offender.
The case is being investigated by FBI Albany’s Child Exploitation Task Force along with state and local law enforcement agencies such as the Rotterdam Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mikayla Espinosa is prosecuting the case under Project Safe Childhood.
Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) aimed at combating online child exploitation through coordinated federal, state, and local resources for prosecution efforts as well as victim identification and rescue efforts. More information can be found at https://www.justice.gov/psc.
