A federal grand jury in Jackson, Tennessee, has indicted a man from Jackson on several charges related to child exploitation and extortion. The United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, Kevin G. Ritz, announced the indictment, which implicates 40-year-old Peter Anthony Pappas in a series of federal crimes.
According to court documents, Pappas allegedly used deceptive tactics to coerce minors into providing him with sensitive information. He is accused of exploiting this information to gain unauthorized access to the victims’ online accounts, including social media, cloud storage, and email platforms. Pappas purportedly used the access to victimize the minors further and to identify and target new victims, with the objective of obtaining sexually explicit images or videos.
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The indictment charges Pappas with multiple counts across several serious offenses: four counts of distribution of child pornography, four counts of transferring obscene material to a minor, two counts of attempted production of child pornography, two counts of coercion and enticement of a minor, one count of extortion by interstate communications, and one count of possessing child pornography.
If convicted on all counts, Pappas faces a potentially life-long prison sentence. The case is currently pending before United States District Court Judge S. Thomas Anderson in Jackson, Tennessee. Should Pappas be convicted, Judge Anderson will determine the sentence based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors, noting that there is no parole in the federal system.
The FBI Memphis Child Exploitation Task Force is investigating the case, and the public is urged to contact Special Agent Eric McCraw with any additional information. Assistant United States Attorney Josh Morrow is prosecuting the case.
It is important to remember that the charges and allegations in the indictment are merely accusations. Peter Anthony Pappas is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
For further information, contact Tjuana Holmes at the U.S. Attorney’s Office or follow their updates on Facebook and Twitter @WDTNNews.
Source: Read Original Release
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