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North Smithfield Gymnastics Instructor Charged With Using AI to Create Child Sexual Abuse Material From Photos of Students
Joseph L. Mello III, 38, a gymnastics, dance and cheerleading instructor who worked across Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts, was arrested Monday on federal charges alleging he secretly filmed and photographed minors and used AI tools to generate explicit images and videos. Prosecutors say the investigation is ongoing and believe there may be additional victims.
A 38-year-old North Smithfield man who worked as an instructor at gymnastics, dance and cheerleading facilities across Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts has been arrested on federal charges alleging he secretly recorded and photographed children and then used artificial intelligence to manufacture sexually explicit images and videos of them.
Joseph L. Mello III was taken into custody Monday and charged with attempted production of child pornography, receipt of child pornography, possession of and access with intent to view child pornography, and production of obscene visual representations of the sexual abuse of children, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for Rhode Island.
Prosecutors did not name the facilities where Mello worked. According to a criminal complaint, Mello filmed a child undressing in a bathroom and changing area at a dance studio where he was taking classes, then attempted to use that footage to create child sexual abuse material.
The complaint further alleges that Mello photographed other children at the facilities where he was employed and used programs including Grok and SwapX to generate AI images and videos from those photos. Investigators said the resulting material depicted the children in sexually explicit conduct, including sex acts with Mello.
Mello is also accused of possessing child sexual abuse material involving children abused by others. In one instance described in reporting on the case, he is accused of secretly photographing a 12-year-old girl changing in a bathroom at one of the dance facilities and later telling detectives he did it for the "thrill and sexual gratification."
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles C. Calenda said the case underscores the dangers posed by fast-moving technology. "This case is a disturbing reminder that rapidly evolving technology can be weaponized to exploit children," Calenda said in a statement. "Behind every image is a child victim whose safety, privacy, and dignity have been violated."
Federal prosecutors said the investigation remains active and that authorities are reviewing evidence and reports of Mello's contact with additional minors. Investigators believe there may be more victims and witnesses and are working to identify and notify them. Anyone whose child had close contact with Mello, or who has information about him photographing or contacting children, is asked to contact Homeland Security New England Victim Assistance at HSINewEnglandVictimAssistance@hsi.dhs.gov.
Mello appeared Monday in U.S. District Court in Providence, where he was temporarily remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. A detention hearing is scheduled for 1 p.m. Thursday.
He was previously arrested in Rhode Island on April 15, 2026, on a video voyeurism charge, a case that prosecutors said remains pending.
The allegations arrive as communities and law enforcement agencies nationwide grapple with the rapid spread of AI tools capable of generating realistic imagery, and with the challenge of protecting children in settings â sports programs, dance studios and cheerleading squads â where adults hold positions of trust. The case also highlights the growing role of federal investigators in pursuing exploitation that crosses state lines and digital platforms.