Monthslong Snapchat Child Sexual Exploitation Probe Led To Arrest: Putnam County Sheriff

SOUTHEAST, NY — A Hudson Valley man accused of using a popular social media site to exploit a child has been arrested, according to officials in Putnam County.

Putnam County Sheriff Brian Hess says that 23-year-old John K. Solorzano-Guadalupe, of Southeast, was arrested after an investigation into internet child sexual exploitation.

The investigation was launched on September 5, when the Sheriff's Office received a case referral from the New York State Police Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force based on a CyberTipline report submitted to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) by Snap Inc., indicating that a Snapchat account had uploaded material depicting the sexual exploitation of a prepubescent child.

After a digital forensics investigation, investigators identified Solorzano-Guadalupe as the suspected user of the Snapchat account involved.

On November 12, a search warrant was issued targeting Solorzano-Guadalupe, his vehicle, and his home. On November 13, members of the Putnam County Sheriff's Office, along with special agents and investigators from Homeland Security Investigations — New York's Hudson Valley office, executed the search warrant at the Southeast residence.

Solorzano-Guadalupe was arrested and charged with felony promoting a sexual performance by a child less than 17 years of age; and felony possessing a sexual performance by a child. He was arraigned in the Town of Southeast Court, with bail was set at $10,000 cash or $20,000 bond.