Tucson Man Gets 10 Years For Possessing, Distributing Child Porn

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A former caregiver for troubled juveniles was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison for possessing and distributing child pornography, following a probe by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

Joshua Lee Merritt, 25, of Tucson, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Raner C. Collins, who also ordered the defendant to register as sex offender and be subject to a lifetime of supervised release. Merritt was convicted in October 2016 of three counts of possessing and distributing child pornography.

This investigation leading to the charges was initiated in November 2014 when undercover HSI special agents received four child pornography videos. The investigators subsequently traced the videos to Merritt and obtained federal search warrants to seize his laptop computer and external hard drive. A forensic examination of those items resulted in the discovery of over 600 child pornography images and videos, many depicting pre-pubescent children.

“This defendant learned firsthand the fate that awaits sexual predators seeking to exploit our most vulnerable population,” said Scott Brown, special agent in charge for HSI Phoenix. “HSI special agents are committed to identifying individuals who’re engaged in this reprehensible practice and ensure they’re held accountable for their actions.”

According to documents obtained during the investigation, Merritt previously worked as a childcare provider at several facilities dating back to 2007. At the time of his arrest, he was employed at a group home for at-risk boys. HSI special agents ultimately determined Merritt had not victimized any youths at that transitional home.

This investigation is a product of Project Safe Childhood, a Department of Justice initiative launched in 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, and HSI’s Operation Predator, an international initiative to protect children from sexual predators.

Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, an Operation Predator partner, via its toll-free 24-hour hotline, 1-800-THE-LOST.

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