Tampa, FL – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the arrest and filing of a criminal complaint charging Justin Ryan Culmo (39, Oldsmar) with production and distribution of child sexual abuse materials. Culmo was arrested on September 26, 2023, and has been ordered detained.
According to the complaint, Culmo has been linked to an online community of individuals who regularly produce, distribute, and receive child sexual abuse material via hidden service websites also known as dark web sites, that operate on an anonymity network. The websites Culmo accessed are exclusively dedicated to the sexual abuse of children. There is probable cause to believe that Culmo produced and distributed child sexual abuse material on these sites.
A complaint is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stacie B. Harris.
Any person who was, or knows of someone who may have been, a possible victim of Culmo is urged to contact HSI at 1-866-347-2423 or http://www.ice.gov/webform/hsi-tip-form.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, 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.
HSI encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free Tip Line at 1-866-347-2423 or by completing its online tip form. Both are staffed around the clock by investigators. From outside the U.S. and Canada, callers should dial 802-872-6199. Hearing impaired users can call TTY 802-872-6196.
Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may also 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 (800-843-5678).
Originally published at https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl/pr/odessa-man-charged-producing-and-distributing-child-sexual-abuse-material
The post Oldsmar Man Charged With Producing And Distributing Child Sexual Abuse Material first appeared on City News Miami.
Law - City News Miami originally published at Law - City News Miami
