Pennsylvania man pleads guilty to receiving and distributing child pornography

SCRANTON, Pa. – Following an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), a Pennsylvania man pleaded guilty to receiving and distributing child pornography.

Rafael Polonia, 21, of Hazelton, Pa., pleaded guilty to the charges Wednesday before U.S. District Court Judge Robert D. Mariani.

According to court documents, Polonia admitted that he used a computer to download and share child pornography videos in January 2012.

The plea agreement proposes a sentencing between 96 and 132 months in prison, to be followed by a life term of supervised release. The agreement must be accepted by Judge Mariani before it becomes final.

The Pennsylvania State Police, the Luzerne County and the Lackawanna County District Attorney's Offices 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.