A New Ipswich man pleaded guilty in federal court on Tuesday to possession of child pornography, Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley announced Wednesday afternoon.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on or about November 28, 2018, Christopher Hodgeman, 29, of New Ipswich began communicating with an undercover officer on a social media platform used to exchange child pornograph, the U.S. Attorney’s Office wrote in a press release. The officer pretended to be an uncle with a nine-year-old niece. Hodgeman repeatedly asked the officer to send him pictures of his niece and allow him to talk to her. Hodgeman sent images of child pornography to the officer. Investigators traced the social media account to Hodgeman’s residence and executed a search warrant on April 15, 2019, where they seized various devices including a cellular phone. A forensic examination of the phone revealed images of child pornography. Hodgeman admitted to using the account, communicating with minor females online, and possessing and distributing child pornography.
Hodgeman is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 10.
“Child pornography contains horrific images of children being exploited,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Farley. “In order to protect children from exploitation and harm, we work closely with our law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute those who manufacture, distribute or possess child pornography.”
“The individual in this case not only traded in child exploitation material, but also sought to make direct contact with children online. Homeland Security Investigations is committed to investigating crimes against children online to prevent their exploitation and stop predators from making contact with potential victims,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge for the Homeland Security Investigations Boston Field Office, William S. Walker.
This matter was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Georgiana MacDonald.