BOSTON — A Brockton man was sentenced May 30 in federal court in Boston for coercing three minors to produce child sexual abuse material after an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New England uncovered his use of a false persona online.
Zaire Aquil Lodge, 46, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison and five years of supervised release. In January, Lodge pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual exploitation of children and one count of receipt of child pornography.
HSI’s investigation found on various dates in 2021, Lodge created a false online persona of a teenage boy that he used to convince at least three child victims to engage in sexually explicit conduct and send him sexual images of themselves. Additionally, Lodge knowingly received and attempted to receive child sexual abuse material between February and October 2021.
Members of the public who have questions, concerns or information regarding this case should call 617-748-3274.
HSI New England Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Krol, Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Brockton Police Chief Brenda Perez made the announcement.
HSI is a global leader in the fight against child exploitation. Last year, HSI special agents dedicated 1.2 million case hours toward investigating child exploitation. This heinous crime harms the most vulnerable in our society: our kids. As technology evolves and more people have access to the internet, children are at a greater risk than ever. HSI’s special agents and analysts around the world are dedicated to countering this threat.
Report suspected child exploitation to the HSI tip line at 877-4-HSI-TIP or through the CyberTipline on the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children's website.
HSI’s Project iGuardian is focused on keeping children and teens safe from online predators through education and awareness. Schools, parent groups, and other community groups can request in-person educational outreach presentations to learn about the dangers of online environments, how to stay safe online, and how to report abuse and suspicious activity.
About HSI
HSI is the principal investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security, responsible for investigating transnational crime and threats, specifically those criminal organizations that exploit the global infrastructure through which international trade, travel and finance move. HSI’s workforce consists of over 10,000 employees, assigned to 235 offices within the United States, and 93 overseas locations in 56 countries. HSI's international presence represents the Department of Homeland Security’s largest investigative law enforcement presence abroad and one of the largest international footprints in U.S. law enforcement.