Cambridge Teacher Indicted On Child Pornography Charges

BOSTON – A Cambridge elementary school teacher was indicted today on multiple counts of child pornography.

Josh Wairi, 27, of Somerville, was charged with transportation of child pornography and three counts of production of child pornography. He is currently being held without bail. On April 17, 2014, Wairi was initially charged via criminal complaint.

The criminal complaint alleges, among other things, that Wairi, a fifth grade teacher, used his email account to trade and receive images of child pornography and also uploaded images and videos of children being sexually exploited. The complaint further alleges that Wairi transferred the images and videos of child pornography to other users.

If convicted, Wairi faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum of 30 years in prison on each count of production of child pornography and a mandatory minimum of five years and maximum of 20 years in prison on the count of transportation of pornography, as well as a mandatory minimum of five years and a maximum of a lifetime of supervised release and a $250,000 fine.

United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz; Shelly Binkowski, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Colonel Timothy P. Alben, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; and Acting Somerville Chief of Police Charles Semino, made the announcement today. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Suzanne Sullivan Jacobus of Ortiz's Major Crimes Unit.

Members of the public who have questions, concerns or information regarding this case should call 617-748-3274.

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

The case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.