News Releases

Newton man charged with possession of child pornography

BOSTON - A Newton, Mass., man was charged today in federal court with possession of child pornography. The charge is the result of an investigation conducted by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

Peter Jepson, 50, was charged in a criminal complaint with possession of child pornography. The criminal complaint alleges that Jepson knowingly possessed visual depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct on or about June 2, 2010.

The complaint alleges that as early as 2008, Jepson utilized multiple Internet technologies, including several social networking websites to traffick images of child pornography. According to court documents, examination of Jepson's computer revealed hundreds of images of child pornography, including those depicting minors being sexually abused.

If convicted on these charges, Jepson faces up to 10 years imprisonment to be followed by up to lifetime supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.

Carmen M. Ortiz, U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts; Bruce M. Foucart, special agent in charge of ICE HSI in Boston; and Richard DesLauriers, special agent in charge of the FBI Boston field division, made the announcement today. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael I. Yoon of Ortiz's Major Crimes Unit.

This investigation was part of Operation Predator, a nationwide ICE 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.

ICE encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free hotline at 1-866-DHS-2ICE. This hotline is staffed around the clock by investigators.

Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, an Operation Predator partner, at 1-800-843-5678 or http://www.cybertipline.com.