Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States
Attorney for the Southern District of Florida; and John V. Gillies, Special
Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office,
announced the filing of three-count indictment charging defendant Diego Tobias
Matrajt, 36, of Miami, with distribution of child pornography and possession of
child pornography, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2252(a)(2)
and 2252(a)(4)(B). Matrajt has been released on bond. If convicted, Matrajt
faces a mandatory statutory minimum sentence of five years and a possible
maximum statutory sentence of up to 20 years in prison.
According to the affidavit in support of
a previously filed criminal complaint, Matrajt distributed 10 images of child
pornography to an undercover agent using a peer-to-peer file sharing program on
February 16, 2012. During a subsequent search of Matrajt’s residence in late
April 2012, law enforcement agents seized several computers and digital media.
A preliminary search of one of Matrajt’s computers revealed approximately 50
webcam videos of children under the age of 12 in various stages of undress.
Matrajt, who operates a child photography business at his residence, has
admitted to surreptitiously video-recording children under the age of 12 as the
children changed clothes in a guest bedroom during photo shoots.
Anyone with any information about this
case should contact the FBI at (305) 944-9101.
This case was brought as part of Project
Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child
sexual exploitation and abuse. Project Safe Childhood was launched in May 2006
by the Department of Justice and is led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and
the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS).
Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better
locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet,
as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project
Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative
efforts of the FBI. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney
Elisa Castrolugo.
An indictment is only an accusation and
a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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