Attorney General Kathleen G. Kane today announced the arrest of two Pennsylvania men on unrelated charges as part of ongoing efforts to target the online sharing and distribution of child pornography.
The latest arrests occurred over the past week in Allegheny and Lancaster counties.
John T. Pembrooke of Allegheny County
The charges state that John T. Prembrooke III, 25, 709 Tamarack Dr., Clairton, Allegheny County, allegedly stole his neighbor’s Wi-Fi to use peer-to-peer networks to download and distribute apparent child pornography.
Agents, conducting an undercover investigation into the online distribution of child pornography, observed files known to contain graphic images of children being subjected to sexual abuse being downloaded and distributed. The IP address associated with this activity was identified as a residence on Tamarack Dr. in Clairton, according to the criminal complaint.
Upon executing a search warrant at the residence, agents found no apparent child pornography on the home’s only computer. Agents then discovered that the owner had an unsecured Wi-Fi network at his home. Using a forensic device, agents determined that a foreign device was connected to the unsecured wireless network and located the direction from which the signal was coming.
Child Predator Section agents determined that the home located at 709 Tamarack Dr. was the location of the foreign device. Agents obtained a search warrant and executed a search of the residence, where a laptop and multiple electronic devices were recovered.
After a preview of those devices, apparent child pornography media files were discovered on the laptop. The forensic examiner noted that there were more than 400 videos and images consistent with child pornography.
After the discovery of apparent child pornography, Pembrooke was contacted, returned home to his residence, and then was arrested. He is charged with 10 counts of possession of child pornography, two counts of distribution of child pornography, one count of theft of services and one count of criminal use of a communication facility. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 16 at 1 p.m. before Magisterial District Judge Armand Martin.
Attorney General Kane thanked the Clairton Police Department for its assistance. The case will be prosecuted by Deputy Attorney General Anthony Marmo of the Attorney General’s Child Predator Section.
Erich D. Diem of Lancaster County
According to the criminal complaint, Eric D. Diem, 32, 119 School Road, Leola, Lancaster County, used a peer-to-peer network in order to make files – containing prepubescent females engaged in graphic sexual acts – available for download. Agents conducting an undercover investigation successfully downloaded the files through the computer’s IP address and identified Diem’s Lancaster County residence as the source.
Diem was arrested at his residence after agents executed a search warrant. A forensic preview of external hard drives located in Diem’s bedroom identified hundreds of files of apparent child pornography, which represents just a small sampling of the files located on the electronic device, according to the criminal complaint.
Diem was charged with 25 counts of possession of child pornography, two counts of distribution of child pornography and one count of criminal use of a communication facility. He was preliminary arraigned on Sept. 3, 2014 and will appear in front of Magisterial District Judge Rodney H. Hartman on Sept. 11, 2014 for a preliminary hearing.
Attorney General Kane thanked the West Earl Township Police Department for its assistance. Senior Deputy Attorney General Christopher Jones of the Office of Attorney General’s Child Predator Section will prosecute the case in Lancaster County.
Reporting Internet Predators
Suspected Internet predators can be reported to the Office of Attorney General’s Child Predator Section by calling the Child Predator Hotline at 1-800-385-1044. Anonymous tips can also be sent directly from a cell phone by texting PAKIDS + YOUR TIP to 847411 or through an online complaint form.
Internet safety tips are available on the “Operation Safe Surf” section of www.attorneygeneral.gov. Organizations interested in materials, speakers or presentations should contact the Attorney General’s Education and Outreach Unit at 1-800-525-7642 or via email at education@attorneygeneral.gov.
