Ex Cobb Deputy Shared, Kept Child Porn While In Law Enforcement: Feds

COBB COUNTY, GA — A federal grand jury indicted a former Cobb County Sheriff's Office deputy on child porn possession and distribution charges late last month, according to a news release from the Department of Justice.

Peter Bilardello, 51, of Marietta, was arrested Aug. 10 on charges of sexual exploitation of a child and distribution of child abuse material, the Marietta Daily Journal reported. At the time, he had been working for Cobb County for more than 15 years and even spent time working in the sex offender unit at the sheriff's office.

He was indicted on federal charges of distribution and possession of child pornography Jan. 25.

“Bilardello allegedly shared child pornography through social media while he was employed as a law enforcement officer,” U.S. Attorney Kurt R. Erskine said. “The victimization of children is one of the most heinous crimes imaginable, and distributing images of child sexual abuse compounds the harm. It is especially troubling that these crimes were allegedly committed by someone in a position of public trust.”

In November 2019, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received a report that a MeWe social media user uploaded and shared roughly 12 images depicting children under 12 years old in sexually explicit conduct, federal authorities said.

Law enforcement officials obtained and executed search warrants for the MeWe account, as well as Bilardello's home and cell phones, and confirmed that Bilardello uploaded and shared child pornography while chatting with other users, according to the release.

Authorities said they also discovered more than 100 pictures and videos depicting young children in sexually explicit conduct.

Bilardello was arrested and immediately put on unpaid administrative leave, the MDJ reported, but the DOJ said he resigned from the sheriff's office.

“Every time pornographic images are distributed online, that child is continuously re-victimized,” said Philip Wislar, acting special agent in charge of FBI Atlanta. “The FBI will not tolerate predators who prey on our children, especially ones like Bilardello, who are sworn law enforcement officers that took an oath to protect the citizens of our community.”

Assistant U.S. Attorney Annalise K. Peters is prosecuting the case.