FRANKLIN, Va. (WAVY) — A 36-year-old man was arrested Thursday on multiple charges related to child pornography, according to the Franklin Police Department.
Michael Robert White was charged with 20 counts of distribution of child pornography and three counts of use of encryption in criminal activity.
The Franklin Police Department received CyberTips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in reference to child sexual abuse material (CSAM) that was disseminated via an instant messaging platform.
A long-term investigation led to the identification of the suspect. The Franklin Police Department was aided in this investigation by the New York City Police Department, U.S. Secret Service, Virginia State Police High Technology Crimes Section, Gates County Sheriff’s Office and New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs.
Many CSAM videos were seized from various instant messaging accounts and a cloud storage account.
White was taken to the Western Tidewater Regional Jail, where he is being held without bond.
The Franklin Police Department encourages parents to speak with their children about internet safety.
If anyone has information about this incident, call Franklin Police at 757-562-8575, Franklin Crime Solvers at 757-516-7100, or go to p3tips.com
