Former Boston Children's Hospital Anesthesiologist Pleads Guilty to Child Exploitation Offenses

BOSTON - A former pediatric cardiac anesthesiologist fellow at Boston Children's Hospital pleaded guilty today to possessing and distributing child sexual abuse material (CSAM).

Christopher Sheerer, 37, of Boston, pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of child pornography; one count of possession of child pornography; and one count of sexual exploitation of children. U.S. District Court Chief Judge Denise J. Casper scheduled sentencing for Dec. 18, 2025. Sheerer was arrested and charged in July 2024 and has remained in federal custody since.

Sheerer was a fellow in pediatric cardiac anesthesiology at Boston Children's Hospital and previously a fellow in pediatric anesthesiology at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore.

In May 2024, an investigation began into a user of an online, encrypted chat application who belonged to a group described as a place for "dads, uncles, and babysitters" to chat, share live material and meet up. The group required prospective members to verify their status as a male guardian or family member by uploading a nude photo of a child under 13 years old, next to a handwritten sign bearing the group's name. The target user was subsequently identified as Sheerer, with an IP address tracing to Johns Hopkins University. Sheerer uploaded imagery of a child known to him to gain admission to that group.

Following a search of Sheerer's residence in Boston the night of his arrest, multiple chats were discovered on Sheerer's phone, several of which contained pictures and videos appearing to be CSAM involving children as young as infants. A number of devices, including his phone, a tablet and computers were seized for further forensic analysis. Forensic analysis showed that Sheerer was involved in dozens of chats with users of the encrypted application, several of which included the exchange of CSAM. Several pornographic images of the child known to Sheerer which appeared to have been created in 2023 were also located.

The charge of distribution of child pornography provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 20 years in prison, a mandatory minimum of five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of possession of child pornography provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of sexual exploitation of children provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and up to 30 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney's Offices in the Districts of Maryland and the Eastern District of Pennsylvania; Homeland Security Investigations in Baltimore and Harrisburg; and the Boston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica Soto and Anne Paruti of the Major Crimes Unit are prosecuting the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the DOJ's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.