Man charged with for 45 counts of possessing child sexual abuse materials

(WPHL) — Montgomery County officials have announced the arrest of a man for possessing child pornography materials.

38-year-old Matthew Pappalardo was charged with 45 counts of possessing Child Sexual Abuse Material, Criminal Use of a Communications Facility, and Possessing Instruments of Crime.

The investigation began when the Department of Homeland Security Investigation team found an encrypted chat application where users communicated with minors for sexual purposes, exchanged usernames for possible minor victims, and shared sexually explicit videos and images of children.

Members of HSI joined the chat in an undercover capacity and chatted with a chat group member identified as “TheMarquisdeSade” or “S-7,” who was discussing and sharing images of child sexual abuse material and discussing sexually abusing children.

The investigation identified Pappalardo as the owner of the “S-7” account.

When officers conducted a search of his cellphone, they found social media and messaging applications where Pappalardo was conversing with two juveniles believed to be 13 and 14 years old, as well as a locked folder on his phone that held multiple nude photos of children.

A search warrant was conducted, and 167 image files and 43 videos of Child Sexual Abuse Material were found on his electronic devices.

Pappalardo is currently being held on a $75,000 bail.