FBI Links 772,000 Child Porn Files to Crypto Transactions in Major Investigation

The FBI has linked cryptocurrency transactions to a significant child pornography investigation. The connection was discovered during a broader probe into a seller of illegal material.

The investigation revealed three cryptocurrency payments amounting to $750, made on March 27, March 31, and April 3 of the previous year. These payments were traced to the suspect, Baltazar.

Search and Evidence Collection

On April 22, 2023, the FBI received detailed personal information about Baltazar, including his social security number and address. Nearly a year later, a search of his home in Grosse Pointe Farms led to the seizure of multiple electronic devices, including a laptop connected to an external drive.

Content Found

An initial examination of the laptop uncovered approximately 690,000 images and 32,000 videos featuring minors, aged 14 to 19, in explicit acts. The material was meticulously organised into folders labelled with the names and ages of the individuals depicted.

Match with Online Seller

Authorities noted that the content on Baltazar’s devices was consistent with that of the online seller he had accessed about 89 times between March 27 and October 8, 2023. The last access occurred a day after Baltazar’s final cryptocurrency transaction to the seller.

This case highlights the use of cryptocurrency in the illegal trade of child sexual abuse material. Reports from the International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (ICMEC) and Standard Chartered suggest that cryptocurrencies are increasingly being used in such transactions. Chainalysis reports that offenders are employing advanced methods like mixers and private coins to conceal their activities.