Lodi Predator: Perdichizzi Admits to Child Porn Distribution

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Jarod Perdichizzi, 30, of Lodi, has confessed to a sickening crime: distributing child pornography. The plea, entered today, closes a chapter in a disturbing case that began with an online hunt for depravity and ended with a federal raid.

According to court documents, Perdichizzi’s descent into criminal behavior began in July 2016. He initiated contact via the Kik messenger service with an individual he believed could facilitate his twisted desires – a minor female. Unbeknownst to Perdichizzi, he was communicating with an undercover federal agent. The conversations quickly turned explicit, with Perdichizzi actively seeking information on how to engage in sexual activity with a child. He didn’t stop there; he also emailed the agent images depicting minors in sexually explicit situations.

The digital trail didn’t end there. A subsequent federal search warrant executed at Perdichizzi’s residence unearthed a thumb drive containing a horrifying cache of illegal material: 88 images and nine videos of child pornography. The evidence painted a clear picture of a predator actively seeking and possessing exploitative content.

Perdichizzi has been cooling his heels in federal custody since his arrest on July 28, 2016. The investigation was spearheaded by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), a relentless pursuit of those who prey on the most vulnerable. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew D. Segal is leading the prosecution, determined to see justice served.

U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez is scheduled to hand down Perdichizzi’s sentence on June 13, 2017. The law is clear: Perdichizzi faces a mandatory minimum of five years behind bars. He could receive up to 20 years in prison and a hefty $250,000 fine. However, the final decision rests with Judge Mendez, who will consider statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide Department of Justice initiative launched in 2006 to combat the escalating epidemic of child sexual exploitation. The project brings together federal, state, and local resources to identify, apprehend, and prosecute predators and rescue victims. For more information on Project Safe Childhood and internet safety resources, visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. The fight against child exploitation continues, and Grimy Times will be there to report it.