David Tweed, Child Exploitation, Massachusetts 2022

BOSTON – A Pennsylvania man has been arrested for a child sexual exploitation offense. David Tweed, 44, of Kulpmont, Penn., was indicted by a federal grand jury in Springfield on one count of sexual exploitation of a child.

Tweed was arrested on August 30, 2022, and was detained following an initial appearance in the Middle District of Pennsylvania. He will appear in federal court in Springfield, Mass., at a later date.

As the chief federal law enforcement officer for our Commonwealth, there is no higher priority than ensuring the safety of our communities and specifically our children, said United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins.

Mr. Tweed is alleged to have preyed on and taken advantage of a child – robbing them of their innocence for the depraved and illegal purpose of producing child sexual abuse material. The exploitation and sexualization of our children is a heinous crime that inflicts untold, long-lasting harm and trauma on its victims.

According to the indictment, on various dates between September 2021 and December 2021, Tweed allegedly employed, used, persuaded, induced, enticed, and coerced a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing visual depictions of that conduct.

The charges of sexual exploitation of a child and attempted sexual exploitation of a child provide for a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and up to 30 years in prison, a lifetime of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.

U.S. Attorney Rollins and HSI SAC Millhollin made the announcement. Significant assistance was provided by the Monson Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Catherine G. Curley of Rollins’ Springfield Branch Office is prosecuting the case.