A Queens resident who was a registered sex offender was found guilty of soliciting and sharing child pornography on more than two dozen Instagram accounts while posing as a modeling scout, preying on children as young as 9 years old.
In a Brooklyn federal courtroom on Wednesday, Davis Burgos-Collazo, 43, was found guilty on five counts of attempting to sexually exploit children, two counts of disseminating child pornography, accessing child porn with the intent to view it, and committing a felony sexual offense involving minors while being a registered sex offender.
Instagram Hunter: Sex Offender Pretends To Be Modeling Scout To Prey On Kids
Prosecutors claimed during Burgos-week-long Collazo’s trial that the Jamaican citizen used 26 different Instagram accounts in 2020 with names like “future models” and “preteen beauty pics” to entice young children. On Burgos-phone, Collazo’s the FBI eventually discovered more than 100 images and videos of child pornography.
FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Michael Driscoll released a statement saying, “Burgos’s conviction illustrates how vulnerable our children are to sexual predators. “The heartbreaking pleas from one of his victims to be left alone should shock parents and guardians.”
The Queens man’s current status as a sexual offender results from a March 2006 conviction for the attempted sexual assault of two other children, ages 9 and 11, as well as the rape of a 7-year-old child. When Burgos-Collazo is sentenced at a later time, it could result in a sentence of up to life in prison.
This is a scary story for parents everywhere and something you have to keep in the back of your mind when you let your children onto social media. Always be aware of who is messaging them or make sure they tell you when something like this happens.
What do you think? Are you surprised by this and should social media companies do a better job at catching people abusing their platforms? Let us know in the comments below.
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