ICE seeks public's help locating a child predator in New Jersey

NEWARK, N.J. — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) urgently needs the public's help to locate a suspected child predator.

HSI special agents are attempting to locate Fredy Marcelo Arbito, 30, of Hightstown, N.J., who is wanted for possessing child pornography. He allegedly was also duping at least one young victim to produce additional child pornography. The criminal complaint and federal arrest warrant were signed Jan. 29, 2013, by U.S. Magistrate Judge Tonianne J. Bongiovanni.

Arbito is described by HSI special agents as being a naturalized U.S. citizen from Ecuador. Arbito is 6 feet tall, weighs 150 pounds and has a mole under his right eye. Although his whereabouts are unknown, HSI special agents believe Arbito is still residing in New Jersey.

According to the criminal complaint, Arbito knowingly and willfully possessed child pornography. In addition, the investigation revealed that Arbito allegedly used the Internet to victimize a minor by capturing and producing sexually explicit videos and images of the minor. Arbito allegedly accomplished this through a scheme by pretending to be a minor female who befriended the minor victim. Arbito then threatened to send those sexually explicit images to the public if the victim did not comply with his demand to engage in further sexually explicit conduct online via a video chat.

As a result of the investigation, HSI believes Arbito has similarly victimized other minors and may be currently engaged in related activities.

Anyone with any information on Arbito's whereabouts is asked to contact HSI immediately, in one of two ways:

• Call the HSI Tip Line at 1-866-347-2423; or
• Submit a tip online at www.ICE.gov/tips.

Both are staffed around the clock by investigators. All tips will remain anonymous. Individuals should not attempt to apprehend Arbito personally.

This investigation is part of Operation Predator, a nationwide HSI initiative to protect children from sexual predators, including those who travel overseas for sex with minors, Internet child pornographers, criminal alien sex offenders and child sex traffickers. HSI is also the founding member and chair of the Virtual Global Taskforce, an international alliance of law enforcement agencies and private industry sector partners working together to prevent and deter online child sexual abuse.