Arizona man arrested for sexual exploitation of minor following investigation by local authorities, HSI Douglas

SIERRA VISTA, Ariz. – On Oct. 12, the Sierra Vista Police Department (SVPD) assisted by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), arrested a local area man on five counts of sexual exploitation of a minor after law enforcement received information that child sexual abuse material (CSAM) was transferred online using a Sierra Vista-area internet protocol (IP) address.

Jerome Pangilinan, 22, of Sierra Vista, was arrested after SVPD and HSI served a search warrant on the 500 block of Coronado.

SVPD opened an investigation in August after receiving a National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) cyber-tip from the Arizona Internet Crimes Against Children (AZICAC) Task Force. The cyber-tip identified email addresses, phone numbers, and online storage accounts associated with Pangilinan. The tip reported to the NCMEC that a storage account used by Pangilinan contained CSAM.

Upon serving the warrant, SVPD detectives and HSI special agents recovered related evidence needed to arrest Pangilinan. The arrest was made without incident.

Anyone with information relevant to this type of case is asked to contact SVPD Detective Thomas P. Ransford at 520-452-7500.

This case is being prosecuted by the Cochise County Attorney’s Office that has closely cooperated between law enforcement agencies in investigation crimes involving attempts of people exploiting children in Cochise County.

HSI encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free tip line at 1-866-347-2423, or by completing its online tip form. Both are staffed around the clock by investigators. From outside the United States and Canada, callers should dial 802-872-6199; hearing impaired users may call TTY 802-872-6196.

HSI takes a victim-centered approach to child exploitation investigations by working to identify, rescue and stabilize victims. HSI works in partnership with the NCMEC, ICAC partners, and other federal, state, and local agencies to help solve cases and rescue sexually exploited children. Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to NCMEC’s toll-free 24-hour hotline, 1-800-THE-LOST.

HSI is a founding member of the Virtual Global Taskforce, an international alliance of law enforcement agencies and private industry sector partners working together to prevent and deter online child sexual abuse.

One of HSI’s top priorities is to protect the public from crimes of victimization, and HSI’s child exploitation investigations program is a central component of this mission set. Further, HSI is recognized as a global leader in this investigative discipline, and is committed to utilizing its vast authorities, international footprint and strong government and non-government partnerships to identify and rescue child victims, identify, and apprehend offenders, prevent transnational child sexual abuse, and help make the internet a safer place for children.

HSI is a directorate of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the principal investigative arm of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), responsible for investigating transnational crime and threats, specifically those criminal organizations that exploit the global infrastructure through which international trade, travel, and finance move. HSI’s workforce of over 10,400 employees consists of more than 6,800 special agents assigned to 225 cities throughout the United States, and 93 overseas locations in 56 countries. HSI’s international presence represents DHS’s largest investigative law enforcement presence abroad and one of the largest international footprints in U.S. law enforcement.