A Brookline resident, Ariel Torres, 37, has been arrested and charged with one count of possession of child pornography. Authorities allege that Torres was identified as an online user of a network used to distribute child sexual abuse material (CSAM). During a search at his home in May 2025, law enforcement seized several electronic devices. Investigators claim they found about 49 images and 37 videos depicting CSAM on two of those devices.
Torres was taken into custody and appeared in federal court in Boston. He is being held pending a detention hearing scheduled for November 25, 2025.
If convicted, the charge carries a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison, with at least five years and up to life on supervised release, and a fine that could reach $250,000. Sentencing will be determined by a federal district court judge following U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and relevant statutes.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley stated: “The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.” Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England, joined Foley in announcing the arrest. The Brookline and Lawrence Police Departments also assisted with the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Suzanne Sullivan Jacobus from the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
This prosecution falls under Project Safe Childhood, an initiative started by the Department of Justice in 2006 to combat child exploitation and abuse nationwide by coordinating efforts among federal, state, and local agencies to find offenders and help victims. More information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.
