Former U.S. Marine from Massachusetts Charged with Possession of Child Pornography

BOSTON - A former U.S. Marine from Everett, Mass. has been arrested and charged for allegedly possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM).

Carlos Fernando Alvarenga Portillo, 29, was charged by criminal complaint with possession of child pornography. Portillo was arrested on Aug. 5, 2026 and was later released on conditions following a detention hearing.

According to the charging documents, Portillo was identified as an individual who had - as early as January 2022 - knowingly possessed files online that depicted CSAM. A forensic examination of a Samsung Galaxy device seized from Portillo's residence on July 15, 2026 allegedly revealed over 200 media files that depicted CSAM, including the abuse of victims between approximately four and 11 years old.

The charge of possession of child pornography provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Jeff Grimming, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Everett Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aidan Lang of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.

The case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the DOJ's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.