Butler County man charged with distributing child porn via encrypted instant message application

Source: United States Department of Justice News

CINCINNATI – A criminal complaint charging David John Frahm, 62, of Trenton, Ohio, with distribution of child pornography alleges that he used an encrypted instant message application to pursue adults with access to minor children for the purposes of engaging in sexual acts and shared sexually explicit images of children.

Court documents allege that Frahm used the app to gain access to chat rooms where people discussed child sexual abuse and shared photos and videos depicting child sexual abuse material. During one of those visits, Frahm allegedly shared three images with an undercover Homeland Security investigator who was in the chat room.

Agents arrested Frahm on April 7. Frahm had his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Karen L. Litkovitz on April 10 and was ordered to remain in custody pending trial. Frahm’s case was unsealed today.

Distribution of child pornography is punishable by a range of five years up to 20 years in prison.

Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Angie Salazar, Special Agent in Charge for Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit Field Office; and the Lebanon Police Department announced the charge and the arrest. Assistant United States Attorney Kyle J. Healey is representing the United States in this case.

A criminal complaint merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

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