Rochester man facing child porn charges after Twitter and Instagram tip off authorities
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ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — A Rochester man has been charged with distribution of child pornography and possession of child pornography involving a prepubescent minor.
Federal prosecutors announced the charges Tuesday, and said Joseph Perez was also wanted on an outstanding warrant for indecency with a child/sexual contact charges in Potter County, Texas.
The new charges against him stem from a tip to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) that was submitted by Twitter back in December 2020. The social media platform told the NCMEC that someone had uploaded four explicit images of children onto Twitter.
Then, in March 2021, Instagram sent a tip to the NCMEC, saying Perez had uploaded one explicit file.
On Nov. 5, 2021, the New York State Police searched Perez’s Avenue D home and seized several electronic devices, including a cellphone with about 125 explicit videos of children on it.