Dec. 15--Social media helped bring about the arrest of a man who had nearly 700 sexually explicit videos and images of children on his laptop, authorities say.
Jeremiah Malfroid was wanted for allegedly downloading and distributing child pornography. The 33-year-old surrendered Monday to local authorities in Oroville, Calif.
Federal investigators on Dec. 9 posted to Facebook information detailing his alleged crime and his fugitive status, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
By Dec. 15, the post, which included information generated through ICE's Operation Predator App, had been shared nearly 200,000 times on social media.
Investigators believe "the additional pressure from social media contributed heavily" to his surrender, ICE said in a statement.
He is now being held on federal child pornography charges, authorities said.
Malfroid was wanted in Hilliard, Ohio, where he once resided, after authorities said they found nearly 700 sexually explicit videos and images of minors on his laptop.
He was charged on Oct. 20 in the Southern District of Ohio with producing, distributing and possessing child pornography.
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