Pennsylvania man charged federally with child exploitation

HARRISBURG, Pa. — A 19-year-old man residing at the U.S. Army War College was indicted for child exploitation offenses Wednesday as a result of an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) inter-agency child exploitation task force.

Zackary Adam Knight of Carlisle, was charged in a four-count indictment filed by a Grand Jury in Harrisburg. If convicted of all offenses, Knight faces a maximum possible sentence of life in prison and fines up to $1,000,000.

Knight is charged with aggravated sexual abuse of a minor, production of child pornography, distribution of child pornography and possession of child pornography.

The indictment alleges the crimes were committed at the U.S. Army War College, which is within the jurisdiction of the United States.

HSI special agents arrested Knight May 9. At the time, Knight was a resident of a housing area at the War College. After a detention hearing in Harrisburg, Knight was ordered detained pending further proceedings.

The U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division assisted in the investigation.

The investigation is part of 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 10,000 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 2013, more than 2,000 individuals were arrested by HSI special agents under this initiative.

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. 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.

HSI is a founding member and current 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.