FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, January 13, 2023

Man Apprehended After Trading Child Sex Abuse Material in Internet Chat Rooms

            WASHINGTON – Ian Fried, 57, formerly of D.C., has been sentenced to seven years in prison for Conspiracy to Distribute and Receive Child Pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Acting Special Agent in Charge Derek W. Gordon of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington, D.C. Field Office. 

            Fried was arrested in Arizona on November 23, 2021, and he has remained in custody ever since.  He pled guilty on July 28, 2022, and was sentenced today in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, by the Honorable Christopher R. Cooper.  Upon completion of his prison term, he will be placed on 10 years of supervised release.  He will also be required to register as a sex offender for 15 years following his release from prison.  Fried was ordered to pay restitution to the victims of his criminal offense. 

            According to the government’s evidence, in May of 2017, Homeland Security

            Investigations began investigating a group of individuals who were trading child pornography on an Internet-based client-server chatting protocol. Numerous individuals located across the country were using the targeted networks to discuss, view and trade child pornography and child exploitation files. Fried frequently used these chat networks between November 2018 through at least March 2020.  During these chat conversations, Fried shared links containing files depicting the sexual abuse of young children.  He also discussed with other offenders where to view and locate child pornography on the Internet.  On October 21, 2021, law enforcement obtained a warrant, authorizing the search of Fried’s residence.  Numerous electronic devices, including laptops, a tablet, and hard drives were recovered.  A forensic review of these devices revealed that they contained hundreds of images and videos depicting the sexual assault and exploitation of very young children.

            In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves and Acting Special Agent in Charge Gordon, commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations.  They also acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy E. Larson, who prosecuted the case.

            This case was brought as part of the Department of Justice's Project Safe Childhood initiative. In February 2006, the Attorney General created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorney's Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.