Springfield Man Arrested for Producing Child Pornography

Springfield resident Andrew Choi, 35, was arrested Friday for producing and possessing child pornography, according to a recent news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.

According to court documents, Choi engaged in online video chats with underage boys between May 2012 and January 2013. The boys performed sexual acts via webcam and Choi recorded them using a screen capture program. Hundreds of other images and videos of child pornography were also discovered on Choi’s computers during the investigation, according to the news release.

Choi is charged with production of child pornography, and will face a mandatory minimum of 15 years and maximum of 30 years in prison, if convicted. He is also being charged with possession of child pornography and faces a maximum of ten years in prison if convicted.

The investigation was conducted by the Manassas City Police Department and the Northern Virginia/D.C. Internet Crimes against Children Task Force. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Alicia J. Yass, a trial attorney with the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, will be prosecuting the case on the behalf of the U.S.

Neil H. MacBride, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Chief of Police Douglas W. Keen of the Manassas City Police Department made the announcement of the arrest after Choi’s initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Theresa C. Buchanan.

This case was brought as part of the Project Safe Childhood — a nationwide effort to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse — initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice.