Shelton Man Sentenced to 24 Years in Federal Prison for Producing Child Sex Abuse Images

David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ROSS DeLIBRO, 54, of Shelton, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to 288 months of imprisonment, followed by 10 years of supervised release, for producing and possessing child sex abuse images.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in March 2024, a detective assigned to the Connecticut State Police Computer Crimes Unit began an investigation into the sharing of child sex abuse images and videos over a peer-to-peer file sharing network. The investigation revealed that an internet protocol (IP) address assigned to DeLibro's residence in Shelton had been used to share child sex abuse videos.

The investigation also revealed that DeLibro had worked since at least 2007 as a preschool teacher and in-home nanny for several families with young children in Connecticut, and had a degree in early childhood education. He solicited in-home nanny business through a popular and legitimate employment website.

On May 1, 2024, investigators conducted a court-authorized search of DeLibro's residence and seized his Apple MacBook Air, his iPhone, an external hard drive, and other items. Analysis of the seized items revealed image and video files depicting male children being sexually abused, including two images in which DeLibro appears engaging in sexually explicit conduct with a toddler.

DeLibro has been detained since his arrest on related state charges on June 11, 2024. On May 15, 2025, he pleaded guilty to production of child pornography and possession of child pornography.

This matter was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Connecticut State Police, with the assistance of the Shelton Police Department and the Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection's Division of Scientific Services. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel George and Nancy Gifford.

U.S. Attorney Sullivan thanked the State's Attorney for the Judicial District of Ansonia/Milford for its cooperation in investigating and prosecuting this matter.

This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice's Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.

To report cases of child exploitation, please visit https://www.cybertipline.com.