Pennsylvania man indicted for offenses involving the exploitation of a minor

HARRISBURG, Pa. — A Stowe, Pennsylvania man was indicted, on Dec. 13, by a federal grand jury for offenses involving the exploitation of a minor, following an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Philadelphia.

Hakeem James Hughes, 28, allegedly coerced and enticed a minor to engage in sex acts for the purpose of making visual images of those acts in Feb. and April 2014. The two-count indictment charges Hughes with production of child pornography on separate dates.

Hughes faces a maximum penalty under federal law for the production of child pornography offenses of 30 years’ imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a $250,000 fine.

Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

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 16,000 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 2016, more than 2,600 child predators were arrested by HSI special agents under this initiative and more than 800 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. HSI is a founding member 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.