Massena man faces child porn charges in federal court

A Massena man faces federal charges for allegedly downloading and distributing child pornography.

Michael E. Forrest, 60, of 89 Water St., was charged today with possessing and distributing child pornography, federal court records show. He will be arraigned Friday in U.S. District Court, Syracuse, before Judge Andrew T. Baxter.

Massena village police and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents raided his home on May 25, seizing five computer towers and several compact discs, court records show.

An ICE agent in court papers said about 55 videos and two pictures were found on Mr. Forrest’s computer, along with 75 videos on several compact discs.

Mr. Forrest was charged May 26 by Massena village police with promotion of an obscene sexual performance by a child and possession of an obscene sexual performance by a child. He allegedly was using a peer-to-peer network to distribute child pornography, police said.