Leah B. Foley United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts | Department of Justice
A man from Everett, Washington has been arrested and charged in connection with threats made against a minor in Massachusetts, as well as the distribution of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and videos depicting animal cruelty.
Joseph Pacheco, 23, was indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston. The charges include knowingly distributing child pornography to a minor, five counts of transmitting threatening communications across state lines, and possession and distribution of animal crushing videos. Authorities arrested Pacheco on Wednesday morning; he is expected to appear before the court in the Western District of Washington before facing proceedings in Boston.
According to prosecutors, Pacheco’s online interactions with a Massachusetts minor reflected ideologies associated with Nihilistic Violent Extremists (NVEs). These groups are described as engaging in criminal acts to destabilize society through chaos. NVEs often use social media platforms to contact minors and attempt to desensitize them to violence by breaking down societal norms regarding violent behavior and the sharing of disturbing materials.
The indictment alleges that Pacheco distributed CSAM to a minor victim, shared animal crushing videos, and issued multiple threats over several dates. On June 1, 2025, he allegedly wrote: "I will kill you if you ever leave me. I cannot live without you. You’re mine forever." Other messages included explicit threats such as: "I have your address and I’ll commit a murder suicide," "Just self-harm or hit yourself to make yourself useful. I’ll f*****g rape and kill you. I know where you live," "If I caught you one more time I’ll swear I’ll f*****g kill you," and "If you don’t add me back I promise you I’ll f*****g kill you Kill your whole family."
The charge for distributing child pornography carries a minimum sentence of five years up to 20 years in prison, potential lifetime supervised release, and fines up to $250,000. Sending threatening interstate communications could result in up to five years imprisonment per count along with additional fines. Distribution of animal crushing videos is punishable by up to seven years’ imprisonment.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley announced the charges alongside officials from the FBI’s Boston Division and the Worcester Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Pohl is prosecuting the case.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood—a Department of Justice initiative started in 2006 aimed at protecting children from exploitation by coordinating resources among federal, state, and local agencies for investigation and prosecution efforts nationwide (www.projectsafechildhood.gov/).
Authorities emphasized that these are allegations at this stage; “The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.”
