Convicted sex offender allegedly found with AI-generated child porn facing federal criminal charge

A Naugatuck man previously convicted of having sex with a preteen victim faces federal charges after a search of his electronics allegedly turned up child pornography, some of which was AI-generated.

Travis Tilley, 40, appeared Monday in federal court in New Haven to answer to charges of receipt of child pornography and possession of child pornography, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut.

The receipt charge carries minimum mandatory sentence of 15 years and a maximum of 40 years, while the possession offense carries a minimum mandatory 10-year sentence and a maximum of 20 years in prison, federal officials said. The potential penalties are enhanced based on Tilley’s prior record.

In 2019, he was convicted in state-level court of possession of child pornography and risk of injury to a minor. The latter charge stemmed from Tilley having sex with someone under 13, federal officials said.

Tilley was released from state custody in August 2022, when he began serving a 15-year probation term. In March 2023, probation officers seized his laptop and flash drive and found that he had used prohibited software and accessed sites that were linked to “sexually explicit material,” according to officials.

Tilley also allegedly used encrypted email and messenger services and had an operating system that was configured to not leave a digital footprint. An analysis of his electronics showed he was a member of Internet chat rooms that “focused on child pornography” and “AI-generated child pornography,” officials said.

Investigators said they also found two videos “depicting the sexual exploitation of prepubescent children” and about 60 images of AI-generated child pornography. According to authorities, there were also “sexually explicit chat room messages” discovered.

Tilley has been in custody since March 2023.