A former Lawrence official has pleaded guilty to child pornography charges

A former chief of staff to Mayor Lawrence pleaded guilty Friday to child pornography charges, federal prosecutors said.

Johnanni Martez-Rosario pleaded guilty to one count of transporting child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography in federal court on Friday, the office of U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy.

Authorities arrested Martez-Rosario50, in February 2023 after police identified him as the user of two online accounts containing child pornography, the statement said.

Levy’s office said law enforcement searched Martez-Rosario’s residence and found an iPad containing child pornography. Martez-Rosario admitted to police that he had two online accounts and admitted to searching for and downloading child pornography, the affidavit said.

Martez-Rosario was fired from his position in Mayor Brian DePeña’s office after his arrest, Boston Globe reported.

“The charge of transportation of child pornography carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years to 20 years in prison, a mandatory minimum sentence of five years to life supervised release and a fine in the amount of up to $250,000,” Levy said in a statement. said “The charge of possession of child pornography carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison, at least five years and up to life on supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.”

Martes-Rosario’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the guilty plea.

Eva Levin is a general assignment contributor for Boston.com. She covers breaking and local news in Boston and beyond.