A federal grand jury in New Haven indicted Adam Wolfe, a 27-year-old Stamford resident, on child exploitation and destruction of evidence offenses, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut David X. Sullivan announced on April 10.
The indictment follows an investigation that began in November 2023 when Homeland Security Investigations and Ridgefield Police looked into allegations that Wolfe possessed child sexual abuse material. During a November interview at his former Ridgefield residence, Wolfe consented to a search of his iPhone and laptop. Authorities say forensic analysis uncovered thousands of images from the laptop’s recycle bin and revealed that Wolfe deleted a TOR browser from his phone during the interview.
Wolfe was arrested on September 30, 2024, under a federal criminal complaint. He faces one count each of receipt of child pornography (carrying a mandatory minimum sentence of five years), possession of child pornography (up to twenty years), and destruction or alteration of records (also up to twenty years). Following his arrest, Wolfe was released on $50,000 bond; no arraignment date has been set.
Sullivan said: “An indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.” The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel P. Gordon through the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative.
The U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut prosecutes federal crimes and handles civil cases for the United States government within the district according to its official website. The office employs about 68 assistant U.S. attorneys with support staff across locations in New Haven, Hartford, and Bridgeport according to its official website. Established in 1789 as one of the oldest prosecutorial offices in the country according to its official website, it serves all residents throughout Connecticut according to its official website.
The Project Safe Childhood Initiative aims to protect children from sexual abuse and exploitation nationwide. For more information about Project Safe Childhood or how to report suspected cases, visit www.justice.gov/psc or www.cybertipline.com.