detention Archives

AppWizard

April 25, 2025

Feds say Ashland man had child porn on Telegram Messenger app. What’s next

Brent Vreeland, a 36-year-old resident of Ashland, has agreed to voluntary detention after a federal hearing on April 24, facing charges related to the distribution of child pornography via the Telegram Messenger app. He has been charged with one count of transportation of child pornography following an investigation that began last October. Vreeland was apprehended at his home after arriving at Logan International Airport in Boston from Reykjavik, Iceland. During a secondary screening, security personnel found suspected child pornography on his phone, leading to an alert for federal investigators. The investigation revealed that Vreeland had conversations on Telegram soliciting content involving minors and sent a video featuring a child as young as four years old to another user, with authorities discovering 30 media files depicting children in his direct messages. If convicted, he faces a potential sentence of five to 20 years in federal prison, a 0,000 fine, and lifetime supervised release. He was ordered to be held without bail during his initial hearing.

AppWizard

March 17, 2025

South Jersey Man Shared Child Porn On Messaging App: Prosecutor

A 49-year-old resident of Millville, John Dunigan, has been arrested for distributing child pornography via the messaging app Kik, following a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Authorities connected various IP addresses and email addresses to Dunigan during their investigation. A search warrant executed at his residence led to charges of first-degree distribution and second-degree possession of child sexual abuse material. Dunigan remains in custody at the Cumberland County Jail, with prosecutors seeking to ensure his continued detention.

AppWizard

February 28, 2025

N.J. teacher accused of uploading child pornography posed as a teen in chat app, officials say

Matthew Serwedes, a 48-year-old former technology educator from Union County, has been charged with second-degree distribution and third-degree possession of child sexual abuse material. He allegedly posed as a teenager on an encrypted messaging platform to engage with users and had uploaded images of child exploitation. The investigation began with a tip on December 5, 2024, leading authorities to trace videos of sexual abuse to Serwedes' IP address. During a search of his home, electronic devices were confiscated, and he admitted to owning the account used for the activities. Serwedes was placed on administrative leave from his teaching position, and the school district stated there is no evidence of student involvement. He remains in custody awaiting a detention hearing and plans to plead not guilty. Additionally, he wrote a six-page apology letter to the victims and their families.

AppWizard

February 15, 2025

Berkeley Twp Man Used Kik Messaging App To Send, Receive Child Porn: Prosecutor

Mario Calabrese, a resident of Berkeley Township, is under investigation for the distribution and possession of child pornography. He was reportedly sending and receiving illicit images through a KiK Messenger account. A court-authorized search warrant was executed at his residence on February 13, where forensic experts confirmed the presence of the Kik Messenger app on his devices. Calabrese was arrested without incident and faces charges of possession and two counts of distribution of child pornography. He is currently held at the Ocean County Jail awaiting a detention hearing.

AppWizard

December 10, 2024

Telegram becomes top messaging app in South Korea amid censorship worries

New installations of Telegram in South Korea surged to 40,576 on the day President Yoon Suk Yeol announced martial law, significantly up from 9,016 the previous day. From Tuesday to Friday of last week, Telegram became the most downloaded mobile messenger in the country, rising from its previous position as the fourth most downloaded app. This increase is attributed to concerns about potential media censorship and the shutdown of domestic apps like KakaoTalk. Following the brief martial law, former Defence Minister Kim Yong-hyun was questioned as part of a treason investigation and later resigned, presenting himself to prosecutors, who then took him into custody under emergency arrest provisions.

AppWizard

September 27, 2024

Telegram to disclose to authorities phone numbers, IP addresses of those who violate messenger’s rules

Telegram plans to disclose personal information, including phone numbers and IP addresses, to authorities in response to valid legal requests. CEO Pavel Durov announced this decision on September 23, following his legal troubles in France, where he was detained on August 24 and charged with facilitating terrorism and drug trafficking. After his release on bail, Telegram began cooperating with French authorities. A poll indicated that 44% of Ukrainians use Telegram for news, but the Ukrainian government has restricted its use among government agencies due to security concerns. Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraine's military intelligence, described Telegram as a "threat to our national security."

AppWizard

September 25, 2024

Telegram will now provide some user data to authorities

Telegram will comply with legal requests from authorities, including providing users' IP addresses and phone numbers when presented with valid search warrants, as announced by CEO Pavel Durov. This decision aims to deter criminal activities on the platform. Durov acknowledged that while most of Telegram's nearly one billion users are law-abiding, a small fraction involved in illicit activities affects the platform's reputation. Following Durov's detention by French authorities over allegations related to criminal activities on Telegram, he criticized the authorities for holding him accountable for third-party actions. Critics have raised concerns about the platform's expansive group feature and its association with misinformation and illegal content. Ukraine has banned the app on state-issued devices to mitigate threats from Russia. Durov's arrest has led to discussions about free speech protections online and concerns about the platform's cooperation with authoritarian governments. Telegram plans to enhance its content moderation efforts using artificial intelligence, but experts express skepticism about whether this will meet legal requirements.

AppWizard

August 29, 2024

Telegram CEO Durov charged with several crimes related to messaging app in France

Pavel Durov, CEO and co-founder of Telegram, faced serious charges in a French court on August 28, including complicity in the distribution of sexual images of children and drug trafficking. Paris prosecutor Laure Beccou announced sufficient grounds for a formal investigation into twelve charges against Durov, which include managing an online platform for illegal transactions, child pornography, drug trafficking, fraud, failure to provide information to authorities, money laundering, and providing cryptographic services to criminals. Durov was arrested at Le Bourget airport on August 24 and granted bail under conditions including a €5 million payment and bi-weekly police reporting. He acquired French citizenship in 2021 and reportedly resides in Dubai. France had issued arrest warrants for Durov and his brother Nikolai in March, and the investigation into Telegram began several months before the public charges. Durov has a net worth estimated at .5 billion and left Russia in 2014 after resisting government demands. Despite claiming exile, he has returned to Russia over sixty times since then. Telegram is widely used in Ukraine, with 44% of Ukrainians utilizing it for news and information according to a September 2023 poll.

AppWizard

August 29, 2024

Telegram founder Pavel Durov facing charges over allowing criminal activity on messaging app

Pavel Durov, CEO of Telegram, was arrested at Le Bourget airport near Paris and released on €5 million bail, but is barred from leaving France amid a legal investigation into allegations of criminal activity linked to the platform. He faces serious accusations, including allowing the distribution of child sexual abuse material and facilitating organized crime activities. French authorities claim Telegram has been uncooperative in providing necessary information for the investigation. Durov is facing preliminary charges, suggesting there are substantial grounds to believe a crime has occurred, yet this stage does not automatically lead to a trial. In response to the allegations, Telegram asserts its compliance with EU laws and defends its moderation practices. Durov's arrest has led to protests in Russia, with some officials claiming it is politically motivated. French President Emmanuel Macron stated that the arrest is not politically motivated and emphasized the importance of freedom of expression within a legal framework. Telegram, founded by Durov, has nearly a billion users and has faced criticism for its lack of content moderation, leading to exploitation by criminal elements. The German government previously fined Telegram €5.1 million for failing to comply with regulations on illegal content.

AppWizard

August 29, 2024

Telegram CEO charged in France for ‘allowing criminal activity’ on messaging app

Pavel Durov, the head of Telegram, has been charged by the French judiciary for allegedly allowing criminal activities on the platform, including complicity in the dissemination of sexual images of minors. He was arrested at Le Bourget airport near Paris and was released on bail set at €5 million, with the condition that he reports to a police station twice a week. Durov, a 39-year-old Russian-born billionaire with French citizenship, is part of a broader investigation into Telegram's moderation practices regarding illicit content. Telegram claims compliance with EU laws and defends its moderation efforts. Durov, who resides in Dubai and holds citizenship in both France and the UAE, has faced scrutiny for Telegram's alleged use by criminal organizations, despite asserting that child abuse material and public calls for violence are "red lines." His low public profile contrasts with other tech executives, and while some Russian officials suggest his arrest may be politically motivated, French President Emmanuel Macron has denied such claims.