ATLANTA – Peter Bilardello, a former Cobb County Deputy Sheriff assigned to the company’s Intercourse Offender Unit, has been sentenced to federal jail for distributing youngster pornography on-line after coming into a responsible plea to the cost in August 2022.
“Bilardello’s crimes represent a horrific breach of the general public’s belief,” stated U.S. Legal professional Ryan Okay. Buchanan. “Regulation enforcement officers like Bilardello, who was answerable for defending the neighborhood from intercourse offenders, bear a particular obligation. It’s an particularly unhappy day when those that take an oath to implement legal guidelines to guard potential victims really break the regulation and victimize as an alternative. The metro-Atlanta regulation enforcement neighborhood stays dedicated to working collaboratively and rapidly to analyze such reprehensible conduct.”
“Each time pornographic photos are distributed on-line, that youngster is constantly re-victimized,” stated Keri Farley, Particular Agent in Cost of FBI Atlanta. “The FBI won’t tolerate predators who prey on our youngsters, particularly ones like Bilardello, who had been sworn regulation enforcement officers that took an oath to guard the residents of our neighborhood.”
“The general public locations a large amount of belief in regulation enforcement officers,” stated Cobb County Police Chief Stuart VanHoozer. “When a regulation enforcement officer breaks that belief, it displays on all officers throughout this career. I stand with the honorable ladies and men of the Cobb County Police Division, with Sheriff Owens and those that serve beneath his command, and with the rest of regulation enforcement professionals throughout this nation who discover acts equivalent to these by regulation enforcement officers abhorrent. We significantly admire U.S. Legal professional Buchanan and all our federal companions who permit stronger sentencing and assist native companies like Cobb Police make our neighborhood safer. Lastly, to the detectives who should work some of these circumstances routinely, thanks for doing issues even most law enforcement officials don’t need to do and thanks for the target and exhausting work on this case specifically.”
“Bilardello’s actions erode the belief the general public locations in regulation enforcement officers,” stated Cobb County Sheriff Craig Owens. “I commend the Cobb County Police Division and the U.S. Legal professional’s Workplace for his or her swift motion in investigating these heinous crimes and stopping the unfold of kid pornography. Justice was served, and this sentence makes clear that nobody is above the regulation, particularly these sworn to guard and serve the general public.”
In line with U.S. Legal professional Buchanan, the costs and different info introduced in court docket: In August 2021, Cobb County Police started investigating a report from the Nationwide Middle for Lacking and Exploited Kids (NCMEC) about suspected youngster pornography distribution on-line. The report, which was based mostly on info submitted to NCMEC by the social media firm MeWe, indicated {that a} MeWe account person who was positioned in Marietta, Georgia, had uploaded and shared roughly 12 photos depicting younger kids engaged in sexually specific conduct.
Cobb County Police executed a search warrant on the social media account and realized that the account person was Peter Bilardello, who was an energetic Cobb County Deputy Sheriff. Bilardello had been employed by the Cobb County Sheriff’s workplace for roughly 17 years. Throughout the time that he was distributing youngster pornography on-line he labored within the company’s Intercourse Offender Unit the place his job duties included sustaining, verifying, and updating the checklist of registered intercourse offenders residing in Cobb County.
After figuring out Bilardello because the social media account proprietor, Cobb County Police promptly obtained and executed search warrants for Bilardello’s residence and mobile phone, and confirmed that Bilardello had uploaded and shared youngster pornography on MeWe. Investigators additionally recovered greater than 300 photos and movies depicting younger kids engaged in sexually specific conduct from his mobile phone, in addition to a number of chats on-line about his pedophilic need for younger kids. Bilardello was instantly arrested and resigned from the Cobb County Sheriff’s Workplace.
Peter Bilardello, 52, of Marietta, Georgia, was sentenced to 5 years, ten months in jail to be adopted by ten years of supervised launch. He was taken into federal custody instantly following sentencing and should register as a intercourse offender. Bilardello was convicted of 1 rely of distributing youngster pornography on August 29, 2022, after he entered a responsible plea.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Cobb County Police Division.
Assistant U.S. Legal professional Annalise Okay. Peters prosecuted the case.
This case is being introduced as a part of Undertaking Protected Childhood. In February 2006, the Legal professional Normal launched Undertaking Protected Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to guard kids from on-line exploitation and abuse. Led by america Legal professional’s Places of work across the nation, Undertaking Protected Childhood marshals federal, state and native assets to apprehend and prosecute people who exploit kids. For extra details about Undertaking Protected Childhood, please go to www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
For additional info please contact the U.S. Legal professional’s Public Affairs Workplace at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Web tackle for the U.S. Legal professional’s Workplace for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.