Adam M. Simpson, Child Exploitation, Connecticut 2015

Adam M. Simpson, a 28-year-old former member of the U.S. Navy, has been charged with child exploitation offenses in Connecticut. Simpson was stationed at the Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton when he allegedly committed the crimes.

According to the indictment, Simpson engaged in video chats with minors using online video chatting services such as Skype and Omegle between January 2013 and November 2013. During these video chats, Simpson enticed the minors to perform sexual acts and engage in sexually explicit conduct, which he recorded, saved on his computer, and then shared with others.

Simpson sometimes posed as a young boy to deceive and entice the minors, and he also coerced them to perform more sexual acts for him by threatening to publicly release their sexually explicit videos. In addition, the indictment alleges that Simpson possessed a collection of child pornography, which he downloaded over the Internet onto his computer.

Simpson has been detained since his arrest on related state charges on January 7, 2014. If convicted of the charge of enticement, Simpson faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life. The charge of receipt of child pornography carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, and the charge of possession of child pornography carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.

U.S. Attorney Deirdre M. Daly stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This matter is being investigated by the Connecticut State Police Computer Crimes Unit, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Connecticut Child Exploitation Task Force, which includes federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. The U.S. Naval Criminal Investigative Service also provided critical assistance in this investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Neeraj N. Patel.

This prosecution is part of the U.S. Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation. To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ct/pr/former-navy-serviceman-stationed-connecticut-charged-child-exploitation-offenses