Alfred Pabon Used Online Messaging Service to Obtain and Distribute Child Pornography
Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Angel M. Melendez, the Special Agent-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), announced the arrest of ALFRED PABON, an Emergency Medical Technician with the Fire Department of the City of New York, stemming from his possession and receipt, as well as distribution of child pornography. PABON was arrested today and presented in Manhattan federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Gabriel W. Gorenstein.
U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said: “As alleged, Alfred Pabon frequented online chat groups for the explicit purpose of finding children and child pornography. In one his chats, Pabon allegedly expressed interest in taking a trip to Mexico in search of ‘something teenish.’ Thanks to the work of Homeland Security Investigations, Pabon’s alleged predatory search for children and child pornography has been brought to an end.”
HSI Special Agent-in-Charge Angel Melendez said: “Using online chat groups to post photos and videos of children being sexually exploited is a sickening crime made even more disturbing when it is committed by an individual who holds the public's trust as a member of the FDNY. Every day HSI agents stationed around the country, use innovative techniques to search the internet and chat rooms to bring these pedophiles to justice and keep our children safe.”
According to the Complaint filed today in Manhattan federal court[1]:
From in or about November 2015, up to and including at least in or about January 2017, ALFRED PABON, an Emergency Medical Technician for the Fire Department of the City of New York, posted images and videos containing child pornography in chat groups of an online messaging application. The chat groups were used almost exclusively to trade child pornography, discuss child pornography, and/or discuss engaging in sexual activity with minors. In or about December 2015, PABON exchanged private messages through the online messaging application with an undercover HSI Special Agent (“UC-1”). Through these exchanges, PABON, using a particular account username (the “Pabon Account”) indicated to UC-1 that he was interested in a trip to Mexico and was looking for “something teenish.” PABON posted an image of two girls, who appear to be prepubescent minors, posing nude on a bed as an example of the type of girls in whom he was interested. In August 2016, a second undercover HSI Special Agent (“UC-2”) observed additional postings by PABON in another online chat room, at least one of which appeared to include an image of child pornography. UC-2 later used a link that PABON had posted to download approximately 33 videos, most of which contained child pornography.
PABON was arrested at his residence in the Bronx, New York. On the morning of his arrest, he admitted to law enforcement that he was the user of the Pabon Account and had used that account to copy and forward images and videos containing child pornography as recently as within the last month.
ALFRED PABON, 49, of the Bronx, New York, is charged with one count of distribution and receipt of child pornography, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and one count of possession of child pornography, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.
Any individuals who believe they have information concerning ALFRED PABON that may be relevant to the investigation should contact HSI at its toll-free hotline: 1-866-DHS-2ICE; TTY for hearing impaired: (802) 872-6196. This hotline is staffed around-the-clock by investigators.
Mr. Bharara praised the efforts of HSI in this investigation. He added that the investigation is continuing.
The prosecution is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Pomerantz is in charge of the prosecution.
The allegations contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint, and the description of the Complaint set forth herein, constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
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