August 10, 2025 – OAKLAND, CA – A federal grand jury has indicted Dominic James Vannucci, who was employed as a teacher’s aide at a middle school in Contra Costa County until June 2025, on charges of receipt and possession of child pornography.  Vannucci made his initial appearance in federal court in Oakland on Thursday, August 7, 2025.

According to the indictment filed and unsealed last week, Vannucci, 25, of Discovery Bay, Calif., allegedly received child sexual abuse materials involving a minor in May 2025.  Vannucci is also charged with possessing child sexual abuse materials involving a prepubescent minor beginning from an unknown date continuing through June 2025.

An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, Vannucci faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a minimum sentence of five years in prison, and a $250,000 fine for each count of receipt of child pornography and possession of child pornography in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252.  Any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.

Vannucci was transferred to federal custody earlier on Thursday and is currently on conditional release.  He is next scheduled to appear in district court on Sept. 19, 2025, for a status conference before U.S. District Judge Jon S. Tigar.

United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Acting Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey Brannigan made the announcement.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly I. Volkar is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Alycee Lane and Amala James.  The prosecution is the result of an investigation by HSI, the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office, and the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office.

Anyone who has information relevant to this case can report it by contacting HSI at HSISanJose@dhs.gov or (877) 477-4847.

Attachment: Vannucci Indictment

Source: DOJ Release