BOSTON – In a chilling development in the realm of child exploitation, Michael Lee, 52, from Randolph, Massachusetts, pleaded guilty today in federal court to a litany of charges, including sexual exploitation of children and multiple counts of distributing, receiving, and possessing child pornography. The gravity of Lee’s actions was underscored by the court’s scheduling of sentencing for August 28, 2019.
Lee’s descent into criminality began when he was arrested in December 2017, charged in a criminal complaint, and has been in federal custody since. His arrest stemmed from an investigation into the online trade of child pornography via Kik, an instant messaging app. During an interrogation with federal agents, Lee confessed to trading explicit images and videos with other users. One such individual, a man from New Hampshire, was found to have provided Lee with disturbing content that depicted the sexual abuse of his eight-year-old daughter at Lee’s instruction.
Forensic analysis confirmed Lee’s admissions, revealing he had not only directed the father on how to sexually abuse the child but also received videos in return. His cell phone and Kik account were rife with evidence of his sinister activities, including videos he himself created and received from other Kik users.
The charges against Lee carry severe penalties. The sexual exploitation of children charge alone mandates a minimum sentence of 15 years, with a potential maximum of 30 years in prison. Possession of child pornography could see him sentenced to no more than 20 years. Distribution and receipt of child pornography come with mandatory minimum sentences of five years, extending up to 20 years. Additionally, Lee faces supervised release for life and a fine that could reach $250,000.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Boston Field Division, announced the charges. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anne Paruti, Project Safe Childhood Coordinator for Lelling’s office, is handling the prosecution.
This case is part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood initiative, which was established in 2006 to combat child exploitation and abuse. The project coordinates federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information on Project Safe Childhood, visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
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Key Facts
- State: Massachusetts
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes|Cybercrime|Public Corruption
- Source: Official Source ↗
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