San Juan area man arrested for possession of child pornography
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – A man who allegedly accessed and downloaded child pornography using a file sharing network was arrested Wednesday in San Juan by special agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
HSI special agents arrested Joed Torres-Monje, 34, following an investigation that revealed he utilized his personal computer to download child pornography via a peer-to-peer (P2P) platform, a network created when two or more computers are connected and share resources without going through a separate server computer.
Investigators traced the computer to Torres-Monje’s residence. On May 6, they executed a federal search warrant at Torres-Monje’s residence and seized his desktop computer. A preliminary forensic analysis of the computer yielded positive to the presence of child pornography.
“Cases involving the possession, production and distribution of child pornography, as well as those related to the transportation of a minor with the intent to engage in criminal sexual conduct, are on the rise,” said Ricardo Mayoral, acting special agent in charge of HSI San Juan. “We have seen an increase of 17 percent during fiscal year 2015 compared to last year and there are still five months left in the fiscal year. Those who prey on children over the Internet should be aware that HSI will utilize all its resources and robust investigative authorities to identify and arrest you.”
Torres-Monje had his initial hearing before U.S. Magistrate Bruce J. McGiverin on Thursday. He was released on bail.
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 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 2014, more than 2,300 individuals were arrested by HSI special agents under this initiative and more than 1,000 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 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.
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