Vermont man accused of possessing child sexual abuse material

The District Attorney’s Office has announced the arraignment of Joseph Weintraub, a 69-year-old resident of Enosburgh, Vermont. Weintraub faces 10 felony counts of possessing child sexual abuse material. These charges stem from an investigation by the Vermont Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (VT-ICAC), which included contributions from the Attorney General’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations and the Vermont State Police.

The investigation was prompted by a CyberTipline report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). The tip was reported by Yahoo after images of child sexual abuse material were uploaded to its servers. Upon further investigation, Weintraub was identified as the account owner responsible for uploading these images. A subsequent search of his home confirmed that he possessed such materials.

During his arraignment in Vermont Superior Court, Franklin Unit, Criminal Division, Weintraub pleaded not guilty. Judge Allison Arms imposed conditions on his release and restricted his access to minors and the internet.

VT-ICAC is charged with investigating cases of online child sexual exploitation. This includes both the production and distribution of child sexual abuse material via the Internet. The task force also provides forensic investigation services, technical assistance, law enforcement training and public education.

The NCMEC serves as a centralized reporting system for online child exploitation cases in the United States. Reports can be made about suspected online seduction of children for sexual acts, molestation, sex tourism or child trafficking, among other things. To report such activities or seek support for recovery from child sexual exploitation, individuals can contact NCMEC through their 24-hour call center or website.