U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has taken into custody a former music teacher from Massachusetts and a Filipino man, both accused of producing videos depicting the sexual exploitation of minor boys in the Philippines.
The arrests were made by ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents. Joshua DeWitte, 50, from Cambridge, was apprehended on May 8, while Christopher Allan Tisoy, 27, a Filipino national living in Baltimore, Maryland, was arrested on May 7. Both face charges of sexual exploitation of minors, attempt, and conspiracy.
According to charging documents, DeWitte worked as a music teacher at a local school in Massachusetts during the time of the alleged crimes. Tisoy entered the United States legally on an H-1B Visa in September 2024 and is employed as a medical technologist at Sinai Hospital of Baltimore.
The investigation revealed that in December 2024, DeWitte was allegedly identified as owning a Snapchat account that uploaded material suspected to depict child sexual abuse involving a boy between eight and ten years old. Records indicate that DeWitte engaged in conversations of a sexual nature with users presenting themselves as minors and requested nude photos from them.
It is further alleged that DeWitte paid another Snapchat user to produce child pornography and recruit minor boys for him. A search warrant executed at his Cambridge residence led to his arrest on several charges related to disseminating obscene material to children.
Forensic examination of DeWitte's cell phone uncovered Telegram conversations implicating both DeWitte and Tisoy in arranging the production of sexually explicit videos involving minors in the Philippines. The discussions reportedly involved negotiations over which minors should be involved and how much money should be paid for each video produced.
DeWitte allegedly made numerous PayPal payments to Tisoy totaling approximately $23,752 for these videos between July 2023 and December 2024.
The charge carries severe penalties including mandatory minimum prison sentences. The defendants remain innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt.
Authorities encourage anyone with information about this case to contact them through designated channels provided.
