SPRINGFIELD - A 33-year-old resident of New Salem was arrested Thursday and charged with possessing and distributing pornographic materials involving children as young as 12 years old.
Nicholas Conkey is charged with two counts each of distributing and receiving child pornography, and a single count of possession of child pornography.
According to the indictment, Conkey is charged with having sent and received child pornography over email in 2018 and early 2019.
He was indicated by a federal grand jury on Thursday.
According to the indictment, federal agents confiscated multiple cameras, laptops and cell phones from his home in New Salem.
His arrest was the result of an investigation involving 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.
If convicted, he could be sentenced to up to 20 years in prison or fined as much as $250,000.
New Salem is a town of around 900 people near the Quabbin Reservoir.