LOS ANGELES – A Riverside County man pleaded guilty today to a federal criminal charge for streaming sexually explicit videos of children – some of them toddlers – in a Zoom online meeting room for individuals interested in child exploitation.
Michael John Andersen, 53, of Palm Springs, pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of child pornography.
According to his plea agreement, in February 2018, Andersen, using the login name “TattdPigPS,” and other individuals logged into a Zoom meeting room that law enforcement previously identified as a place for people interested in sexually explicit images and videos of children. Within a 10-minute span, Andersen streamed three sexually explicit videos of children – two of the videos featured toddlers.
In March 2018, Andersen again logged into the same Zoom meeting room and again streamed two sexually explicit videos featuring children.
Law enforcement recorded both sessions in which Andersen posted child pornography online.
In August 2018, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Andersen’s home. Andersen admitted to law enforcement that he believed the agents were at his residence because of his activities in “pedophile or perv Zoom rooms.” He also admitted to previously streaming child pornography on Zoom.
A forensic analysis of Andersen’s digital devices, including an iPhone and iPad, revealed approximately 151 images and nine videos of child pornography.
United States District Judge Stephen V. Wilson scheduled an October 24 sentencing hearing, at which time Andersen will face a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in federal prison and a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.
Homeland Security Investigations investigated this matter.
Assistant United States Attorney Sonah Lee of the Riverside Branch Office is prosecuting this case.