Crime & Safety

Manassas Police Aid in Arrest of Child Pornography Suspect

A Springfield man appeared in federal court today on child pornography charges, Manassas Police said.

A Springfield man appeared in federal court this week on charges that he used his computer's screen capture tool to take pictures of young boys performing sex acts, according to a press release issued by U.S. Department of Justice.

Andrew Choi, 35, is charged with production and possession of child pornography.

Manassas investigators and assistant U.S. attorneys allege that Choi engaged in online video chats with underage boys between May 2012 and January 2013.

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Authorities charge the boys performed sex acts on camera and that Choi recorded them using a screen capture program.

Hundreds of other images and videos of child pornography were also discovered on Choi’s computers, Manassas police said.

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Choi appeared in court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Theresa C. Buchanan this week.

If convicted of child pornography production charges, he faces a mandatory minimum prison sentence of 15 years and maximum of 30 years.

Possession of child pornography carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.

Special Assistant United States Attorney Alicia J. Yass, is prosecuting the case for the government.

Yass is a trial attorney with the Child Exploitation and Obscenity section of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division.

The investigation was brought forth as a part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. 

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