PHOENIX, AZ — Special agents with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) are seeking the public’s assistance to identify potential victims of a former teacher arrested Thursday for distributing and possessing child exploitation material.
Cheng-Hsuan “Eric” Tsai, 29, of Mesa, Arizona, appeared for his initial appearance Friday morning. He faces 20 counts of distribution and possessing images of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Maricopa County Judge Steven McCarthy set Tsai’s bail to $1 million dollars.
The investigation on Tsai began in February, when HSI special agents discovered a then unknown suspect who was accessing, downloading and disseminating child sexual exploitation material (CSEM) electronically. HSI, in conjunction with the Mesa Police Department (MPD), opened an investigation, which ultimately identified Tsai.
HSI special agents, officers with MPD and the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, arrested Tsai Thursday morning at his residence in Mesa, after a state-executed search warrant of his electronic devices revealed the presence of CSEM. Additionally, an initial forensic review of his media revealed sexually abusive material of infants.
At the time of his arrest, Tsai was employed as a teacher at the Tempe Montessori school, in Mesa.
Anyone who may have had previous contact with Tsai or thinks they may have information that may be relevant to the child exploitation investigation, is asked to call HSI Phoenix at (602) 200-2200.