Dover man could get 20 years after pleading guilty to child porn 'catfishing' scheme

CONCORD - A Dover man pleaded guilty in federal court today to possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material.

Evan Gadarowski, 29, waived indictment and pleaded guilty to one count each of possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material.

Between 2018 and 2021, Gadarowski solicited, received, and disseminated sexually explicit images and videos depicting numerous minor survivors, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorneys Office. Gadarowski posed as a teenage girl using sexually explicit images and videos of one minor survivor and adopting them as part of a fictitious online persona, a practice sometimes referred to as "catfishing."

Using this fictitious persona, Gadarowski posed as a bisexual female and pursued online relationships with high-school aged girls. Gadarowski sent sexually explicit images and videos depicting one minor survivor to others and induced unsuspecting minor survivors to send him sexually explicit images and videos of themselves in return. The investigation also revealed that Gadarowski sold collections of sexually explicit images depicting some of the minor survivors to others online.

The charging statute provides a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, a minimum of 5 years of supervised release, a fine of $250,000 and mandatory restitution.

Homeland Security Investigations led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Nashua Police Department and the New Hampshire Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kasey Weiland is prosecuting the case.

U.S. District Court Judge Samantha Elliott scheduled sentencing for Feb 2.