EVERETT — A federal grand jury indicted a 42-year-old Mexican citizen living in Bothell for allegedly receiving images of child pornography.
The indictment comes less than a month after Bothell police detectives arrested Jaime Neri-Soto on Feb. 14, concluding a four-month investigation that included the FBI.
When Nero-Soto was fingerprinted, law enforcement learned he was previously registered as a sex offender. His registration was terminated in 2017 when Neri-Soto was turned over to federal authorities for deportation, a press release said.
In October 2024, Whatsapp, an online platform used for private messaging and calling, notified the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that a user of its platform had uploaded images of child sexual abuse.
In January, Bothell police detectives began working to connect the phone number and IP address to a particular individual. Working with information on the device and internet service providers, law enforcement was able to determine the location of the phone at various times to an address in the 2300 block of Locust Way in Bothell, according to court records.
Further investigation ultimately identified Neri-Soto as the user who uploaded the images, according to court records.
Federal authorities conducted a forensic analysis of the electronic devices in Neri-Soto’s possession. The cyber review allegedly found numerous images of child sexual abuse on one of the devices. Neri-Soto was charged federally by criminal complaint with receipt of images of child sexual abuse.
Neri-Soto is scheduled for arraignment on March 13 before a U.S. District Court judge. If convicted, Neri-Soto could face up to 20 years in prison.
Michael Henneke: 425-339-3431; michael.henneke@heraldnet.com; X: @ihenpecked.
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