Pennsylvania man charged with receiving and distributing child pornography

SCRANTON, Pa. – A Pennsylvania man was charged May 14 with receiving and distributing child pornography. The charge is the result of an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

Richard A. Lewis, 49, of Dingmans Ferry, Pa., was indicted by a federal grand jury with committing the offense. The HSI investigation revealed that Lewis used a computer between January and May 2013 to receive and distribute child pornography.

If convicted, Lewis faces 40 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The Pike County District Attorney’s Office, Ontario Provincial Police and Pennsylvania State Police assisted in the investigation.

This investigation was 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 encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free hotline at 1-866-DHS-2ICE 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, at 1-800-843-5678 or http://www.cybertipline.com.