Evergreen Reporter

Vincent Masga Songsong, age 40, from the island of Rota in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), has been sentenced to 120 months in federal prison for possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). The sentencing was announced by Shawn N. Anderson, United States Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands. In addition to imprisonment, Songsong will undergo five years of supervised release and must register as a sex offender wherever he resides, works, or studies. A restitution hearing is scheduled for September 27, 2024.

Songsong had previously been convicted of the same crime in 2015 and served a 78-month sentence followed by supervised release. On June 23, 2023, a United States Probation officer discovered an unregistered cellular phone in Songsong’s possession at his workplace on Rota. Forensic analysis by the Federal Bureau of Investigation revealed over 1,000 video and image files depicting child sexual exploitation on the device. Approximately 123 victims have been identified so far.

"The possession of CSAM is an unconscionable crime that affects the most vulnerable in our communities," stated United States Attorney Anderson. "The harm to child victims can last a lifetime. Our Project Safe Childhood initiative continues to target those who seek to prey on children. Our office will pursue these cases whenever the evidence supports prosecution."

FBI Special Agent in Charge Steven Merrill emphasized the agency's commitment: "The FBI is dedicated to ensuring the safety of children in the United States and its territories. Today’s sentencing sends a clear message that crimes against children will never be tolerated. Our collective efforts to promote public safety in Hawaii, Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands remains steadfast, and the FBI will continue to investigate, disrupt, and hold accountable those who prey upon the children of our communities."

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Albert S. Flores Jr., Assistant United States Attorney in the District of the Northern Mariana Islands.

This case falls under Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, PSC coordinates federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals exploiting children via the Internet while also identifying and rescuing victims.

For more information about PSC, visit Justice.gov/PSC.