Leah B. Foley United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts | Department of Justice
A Chicago resident has been arrested and charged with the alleged sexual exploitation of a 14-year-old minor from Massachusetts, according to federal authorities.
Joshua Rogers, 30, faces one count of sexual exploitation of children. He was taken into custody in Chicago and is expected to appear in federal court in Boston at a later date.
Charging documents state that in July 2025, Brookline law enforcement received information about an individual claiming to be a 17-year-old named "John." The person was later identified as Rogers. Authorities allege that Rogers used Snapchat to engage in sexually explicit conversations with the minor victim. A review of cell phone data reportedly uncovered multiple explicit messages from Rogers, who allegedly coerced the victim into performing sexually explicit acts and demanded documentation through photos or videos. Investigators also allege that Rogers discussed kidnapping the minor or having her run away.
The charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and up to 30 years in prison, as well as at least five years and up to life on supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentencing will be determined by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and relevant statutes.
"United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Chief Jennifer Paster of the Brookline Police Department made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the FBI’s Chicago Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Luke A. Goldworm, Project Safe Childhood Coordinator and a member of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case."
The prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched by the Department of Justice in 2006 aimed at protecting children from exploitation and abuse by coordinating efforts among federal, state, and local agencies to apprehend offenders and assist victims. More information can be found at www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Authorities emphasized that all details contained within charging documents are allegations and that "the defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law."
