Registered Sex Offender Arrested for Possession of Child Pornography

BOSTON - A registered sex offender has been arrested and charged with possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM).

James Muzzi, 61, of Medford, Mass., was charged with possession of child pornography. Muzzi remains detained following an initial appearance in federal court in Boston earlier today.

According to the charging documents, Muzzi's cell phone contained thousands of images and videos of CSAM, including children who appeared to be as young as three to five years old. It is further alleged that Muzzi's phone also included online chat messages in which Muzzi and other individuals exchanging multiple videos containing CSAM as well as messages regarding CSAM. Muzzi was previously convicted in Massachusetts state court of three counts of distribution of child pornography and two counts of possession of child pornography.

Because Muzzi is a recidivist offender, the charge of possession of child pornography provides for a sentence of no less than 10 years and up to 20 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $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 Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Medford Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Julissa Walsh and Luke Goldworm of the Major Crimes Unit are prosecuting the case.

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 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.justice.gov/psc.

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