West Haven Man Sentenced to 6 Years for Trading Child Sexual Abuse Material
Adam Salgado Jr., 32, used Telegram to share hundreds of abuse images while on active duty in Texas
PublishedMarch 19, 2026
The investigation was led by Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the Middletown Police Department
West Haven Army Soldier Sentenced to 6 Years for CSAM Trading
Adam C. Salgado Jr., 32, of West Haven, was sentenced Thursday to six years in federal prison for trading child sexual abuse material through the Telegram messaging app, U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Connecticut announced. U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden imposed the sentence of 72 months in prison followed by seven years of supervised release at U.S. District Court in New Haven.
Salgado must report to begin serving his sentence by April 16, 2026. He has been released on a $100,000 bond in the interim.
How the Investigation Unfolded
According to prosecutors, Salgado used Telegram — an encrypted messaging application — to connect with others who shared and traded child sexual abuse images and videos. He viewed and downloaded hundreds of such files. Federal authorities arrested Salgado on June 5, 2024, in Texas, where he was stationed on active duty with the U.S. Army. He pleaded guilty on November 10, 2025, to one count of receipt of child pornography.
The investigation was led by Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the Middletown Police Department and the Army Criminal Investigation Division.
Federal Child Exploitation Enforcement
Salgado's case is part of federal efforts under Project Safe Childhood, the Department of Justice's initiative to combat the online exploitation of children. Prosecutions under the program target individuals who produce, distribute, or receive child sexual abuse material through digital platforms.
Telegram has come under increased scrutiny from law enforcement in recent years as a platform used to share illegal content, in part because of its end-to-end encryption features and large group channel capabilities. Federal investigators have increasingly pursued Telegram-based child exploitation networks across multiple jurisdictions.
Federal law sets a mandatory minimum of five years in prison for receipt of child pornography, with a maximum of 20 years. The seven-year supervised release term will impose ongoing restrictions including registration as a sex offender, limits on internet use, and prohibition from contact with minors.
The U.S. Army has not issued a public statement regarding Salgado's case or his current military status. Salgado has not been publicly linked to any prior criminal history in Connecticut.
