Authorities in Berks County announced the arrests of ten men for possessing and distributing child pornography. The arrests are the result of a four month investigation by detectives in the District Attorney’s Child Abuse Unit and the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
Detectives served search warrants on eight homes throughout Berks County. As a result of the search warrants, computers with pornographic images and other evidence linking the accused men to distribution and/or possession of child pornography were seized. The computers were examined and found to be holding thousands of child pornographic images.
During the course of the investigation four images of victims were identified. Two of the victims reside in Berks County and two reside in Chester County. The ages of these victims range from 1 to 5 years of age. These cases are still under investigation.
The following ten males were arrested on the felony charges of the Sexual Abuse of Children:
- Brian K. Crimmins, age 48, 700 block of Tamarack Trail, Shillington
- David A. Crimmins, age 18, 700 block of Tamarack Trail, Shillington
- Cori J. Merklinger, age 23, 1400 block of Friedensburg Road, Reading
- Hector L. Perez, age 20, 200 block of Arlington Street, Reading
- Hugo D. Blanco, age 20, 1400 block of Hampden Blvd., Reading (remain at large)
- Brett A. Correll, age 31, 1500 block off Fern Avenue, Reading (remain at large)
- Reinerio Velazco-Mena, age 41, 1300 block of North 9th Street, Reading
- Danny Ray Evans, Jr., age 26, 300 block of Pearl Street, Reading
- Christopher M. Mailloux, age 22, 300 block of Pearl Street, Reading
- Lewis V. Martinez, age 22, 900 block of Weiser Street, Reading
“The criminals arrested today are exploiting children and contributing to their continuing misery and abuse,” said Chief County Detective Michael Gombar. “Crackdowns like this send a strong message that possessing images of child sexual abuse is a crime and will not be tolerated in Berks County.”