Leah B. Foley United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts | Department of Justice
A Brighton man was arrested and charged with receiving child sexual abuse material, according to an announcement on April 2.
John Tapley, age 33, faces one count of receipt of child pornography. Authorities said Tapley was arrested at his home and later appeared in federal court in Boston, where he was ordered detained until a hearing scheduled for April 6.
Charging documents allege that Tapley participated in 15 group chats on the Signal messenger application. Many of these groups reportedly had names suggesting the exchange of child sexual abuse material. During a search of his residence, investigators say they found five files containing such material received through Tapley's Signal account. The victims depicted in the videos were described as appearing between seven and eleven years old.
If convicted, Tapley faces a minimum sentence of five years and up to twenty years in prison, at least five years and up to lifetime supervised release, and a fine that could reach $250,000. Sentencing would be determined by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and relevant statutes.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge for Homeland Security Investigations New England announced the charges. The United States Postal Inspection Service and Boston Police Department provided assistance with the case, which is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Allegra Flamm from the Major Crimes Unit.
The case is part of Project Safe Childhood—a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 aimed at combating child exploitation—which brings together federal, state, and local resources to prosecute offenders and rescue victims. More information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Officials emphasized that all details contained within charging documents are allegations; Tapley is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
