New Bedford Guide Your Guide to New Bedford and South Coast, MA
“A Brockton man has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston for allegedly coercing three minors to produce child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
Zaire Aquil Lodge, 45, was indicted on three counts of sexual exploitation of children and one count of receipt of child pornography. Zaire was arrested on Jan. 23, 2023 and appeared in federal court in Boston today for a detention hearing before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Judith G. Dein, who has taken the matter under advisement. Lodge was remanded to federal custody until further notice.
According to the indictment, on various dates in 2021, Lodge employed, used, persuaded, induced and coerced three minors to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing CSAM. It is also alleged that Lodge knowingly received and attempted to receive CSAM between February and October 2021.
The charges of sexual exploitation of children provide for a sentence of at least 15 years and up to 30 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of receipt of child pornography provides for a sentence of at least five years and 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.
Members of the public who have questions, concerns or information regarding this case should call 617-748-3274.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; Matthew B. Millhollin, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England and Brockton Police Chief Brenda Perez made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney David G. Tobin of Rollins’ Major Crimes Unit is 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 indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.” -Massachusetts Department of Justice.
