MA Man Who Shared Child Porn Through Apps Gets Decade In Federal Prison

WORCESTER, MA — A Worcester County man arrested three years ago on child sexual abuse materials charges will spend a decade in federal prison, a judge has decided.

Michael Irons, 46, was sentenced last week in U.S. District Court in Worcester after pleading guilty to possession of child pornography and distribution of child pornography charges. Irons was arrested in July 2020, and entered his guilty plea in January.

According to federal prosecutors, Irons, a former Gardner resident, used the social media apps Kik and Snapchat to collect and distribute illicit images of children. Investigators found over 1,500 images and videos on two phones seized from his Gardner home.

"Irons participated in a [Kik] group chat where he distributed and encouraged other members to upload child pornography. Irons also had a Snapchat account, which Irons used to solicit nude photographs and videos from purported minors," prosecutors said.

After Irons leaves prison, he will serve five more years of supervised release, prosecutors said.