A Peabody resident, Felix Santos, 34, was arrested and charged with one count of transporting child pornography after arriving at Boston Logan International Airport from the Dominican Republic on July 23. According to charging documents, Santos was referred to secondary inspection by border agents upon arrival. During a screening of his phone, authorities allegedly found multiple files consistent with child sexual abuse material in his Telegram chat application. Further analysis reportedly revealed at least 20 photos and 952 videos depicting such material on the device.
Santos appeared in federal court in Boston following his arrest. The charge carries a sentence of at least five years and up to 20 years in prison, as well as at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentencing is determined by a federal district court judge based on U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and relevant statutes.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Jeff Grimming, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England, announced the arrest. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection Boston Field Office provided assistance in the case, which is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Catherine Conroy of the Major Crimes Unit.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse nationwide by coordinating resources among federal, state, and local agencies to locate offenders and rescue victims.
The details contained in the charging document are allegations; Santos is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
The U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts enforces federal laws throughout Massachusetts—including national security threats and civil rights violations—and advances community initiatives related to civil rights and violence prevention while employing over 200 attorneys, paralegals, and professional staff across facilities including its main office at John Joseph Moakley United States Federal Courthouse in Boston as well as branch offices in Springfield and Worcester; it serves all residents statewide as part of the United States Department of Justice, according to the official website.