A man from China, Maine, has pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Portland to a charge of accessing child pornography with the intent to view it.
Court documents show that the investigation began in June 2024 after the Maine State Police Computer Crimes Unit received a Cybertip from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC). The tip concerned activity on Kik, an instant messaging mobile app. According to investigators, Jeffery Furlong, 53, was identified as the user who uploaded multiple videos containing child sexual abuse material.
Following further investigation, authorities executed a search warrant at Furlongâs residence in October 2024. During the search, Furlong admitted he had obtained several images and videos of child sexual abuse material on his phone using Kik. Investigators also searched his Kik account and found evidence of child sexual abuse material along with messages expressing sexual interest in children between six and twelve years old.
Furlong could face up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and up to a lifetime of supervised release. Sentencing will occur after completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. The final sentence will be determined by a federal district court judge based on sentencing guidelines and statutory factors.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Maine State Police Computer Crimes Unit.
“Child sexual abuse material â referred to in legal terms as ‘child pornography’ â captures the sexual abuse and exploitation of children. These images document victimsâ exploitation and abuse, and they suffer revictimization every time the images are viewed,” according to information provided about reporting incidents involving such materials. In 2023, NCMEC received 36 million reports related to possession, manufacture or distribution of these materials. Reports can be filed with NCMEC at https://report.cybertip.org or by calling 1-800-843-5678. In Maine, help is available through a free statewide helpline at 1-800-871-7741 for those affected by sexual assault or abuse.
“This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneysâ Offices and the Departmentâs Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.” More information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/psc.
