Delaware man indicted on child exploitation charges

WILMINGTON, Del. — A Dover, Delaware, man was indicted by a federal grand jury in Wilmington, on April 13, on charges related to the production, receipt, and possession of child pornography, following a federal investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Delaware Child Predator Task Force, and the Caroline County, Maryland Sheriff’s Office.    

Scott C. Foster, 37, made his initial appearance before a federal magistrate judge on April 24, 2017, where his federal indictment was unsealed. Foster allegedly used a fake Facebook account under the name of “Chase Reacher” to harass, threaten, and coerce minor females into making and sending sexually explicit photographs.

According to the Indictment, from Aug. 2016 through Sept. 2016, Foster knowingly persuaded two Maryland minors to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing images of the conduct and knowingly received child pornography from the two minors. During the same time period, the Indictment alleges that Foster knowingly attempted to persuade and induce a third Maryland minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing images of the conduct. Foster is also charged with possession of child pornography.

An indictment is merely an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This investigation was conducted under HSI’s Operation Predator, an international initiative to protect children from sexual predators. Since the launch of Operation Predator in 2003, HSI has arrested more than 14,000 individuals for crimes against children, including the production and distribution of online child pornography, traveling overseas for sex with minors, and sex trafficking of children. In fiscal year 2015, nearly 2,400 individuals were arrested by HSI special agents under this initiative and more than 1,000 victims identified or rescued.

HSI encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free Tip Line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE or by completing its online tip form. Both are staffed around the clock by investigators. From outside the U.S. and Canada, callers should dial 802-872-6199. Hearing impaired users can call TTY 802-872-6196.

Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, an Operation Predator partner, via its toll-free 24-hour hotline, 1-800-THE-LOST.

For additional information about wanted suspected child predators, download HSI’s Operation Predator smartphone app or visit the online suspect alerts page.