Christopher Fox Arrested For Various Internet Crimes Against Children

HONOLULU – Christopher Ernest Fox, age 20, was arrested and had his Initial Appearance today on a Criminal Complaint filed in the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii. The Complaint charges him with five violations of federal law, including the transfer of obscene material to a minor under the age of 16, production of child pornography, cyberstalking, and distribution and possession of child pornography. The crime of production of child pornography carries a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison.

According to Acting United States Attorney Elliot Enoki, the Complaint states that between August and November of 2016, Fox corresponded with a minor female in the United Kingdom using social media applications including Instagram and Snapchat. During the time the two were in contact, the girl turned thirteen years old and confirmed her age to Fox. Fox stated that he did not mind the age difference, and told her that he wanted to marry her when she turned 18 years old. During these discussions, Fox solicited information from the minor about her life, including the names of her friends.

According to the Complaint, after being in contact for several weeks, Fox sent sexually explicit photos and videos of himself to the minor female, and encouraged her to send sexually explicit photos of herself in return.

According to the Complaint, once in possession of these photos of the minor female, Fox threatened to post them online or send them to her friends unless she sent him more photos of herself naked. Fox then created a social media account using the minor’s name, and contacted her friends via the social media account. He then distributed the explicit images of the minor to her friends and classmates using the account.

The Honorable Richard L. Puglisi, United States Magistrate Judge, set a detention hearing for Friday, September 1, 2017 at 1:30pm before the Honorable Kenneth J. Mansfield.

The charges in the Complaint are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

This case is being investigated by the United States Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the Wiltshire Police Department in the United Kingdom. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Morgan Early.