A 19-year-old Queensland man has been charged with possessing and distributing child pornography over the Internet following a joint investigation with the FBI and the Australian Federal Police (AFP).
Federal agents arrested the man in a raid on April 13 of a North Lakes premises north of Brisbane. They also seized CDs, DVDs, a laptop and two hard drives.
The man has been charged with 13 offences including two counts of using a carriage service to access child pornography material; possessing, controlling, producing, supplying or obtaining child pornography material for use through a carriage service; and two counts of using a carriage service to procure persons under 16 years of age to engage in or submit to sexual activity.
He was also charged with six counts of unauthorised access, modification or impairment to a carriage service to procure persons under 16 years of age to engage in sexual activity. In a statement, AFP national manager of high-tech crime operations, Commander Neil Gaughan, urged young people to be aware of the dangers on the Internet.
“Just as you would in the real world, if you don’t feel comfortable talking to someone, then leave the conversation,” Gaughan said. “The person you’re talking to may seem friendly enough, but they may not have your best interests at heart.”
The man faces a maximum penalty of 15 years imprisonment. He appeared in Pine Rivers Magistrates Court on April 14 and will reappear on June 20.
