Further investigations led to Patel being identified
Sandeep Patel, an Indian man living in Belcamp, Maryland, USA, was arrested on May 22, 2019, on suspicion of possessing child pornography.
This comes after a Maryland State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force investigation developed evidence supporting charges of possession of child pornography.
In a press release, officers said he was arrested with eight counts of possession of child pornography.
Patel was arrested at his home without incident and taken to the Maryland State Police Bel Air Barrack for processing.
The investigation began in February 2019 when detectives from the Baltimore County Police Internet Crimes Against Children began an online investigation involving the possession of child pornography.
They discovered a person online who was actively pursuing the receipt of child pornography files.
Further investigations led to the 29-year-old suspect being identified and his address in Harford County.
The case was transferred to an investigator assigned to the Maryland State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
On May 22, 2019, at approximately 6 am, the Indian man’s home was searched by the police, who were assisted by Homeland Security Investigations after they were issued a search warrant.
When they searched the house, they found a number of electronic devices which belonged to Patel.
A preliminary forensic review revealed multiple child pornography files.
The devices were seized and are set to be analysed by the police’s Digital Forensics Laboratory. Patel was subsequently arrested.
The police department’s Computer Crimes Unit coordinates the Maryland State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
It is a combined law enforcement effort which involves police departments across Maryland.
Funds are provided by the Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention (GOCCP) and by a federal grant from the U.S. Department of Justice. They make police law enforcement across Maryland possible.
Task force investigators focus on identifying those who are involved in child pornography, such as through the Internet and other related crimes that victimise children.
In another incident which took place in the UK, Asim Hussain was jailed for seven years and eight months for having images of child pornography.
The case was covered on the TV show 24 Hours in Police Custody.
Officers received information that an occupant of a house in Luton was accessing indecent images of children. In February 2017, a warrant was issued to carry out a search.
Several electronic devices, including two laptops, three hard drives and a mobile phone was seized.
They were found to contain over 54,000 indecent images of children. Officers also found drugs and a large sum of cash.
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