A registered sex offender from Medford was arrested Thursday and charged in federal court after investigators say a cellphone tied to him contained thousands of child sexual-abuse images and videos. Prosecutors say some files depicted children who appeared to be as young as three to five years old, and the case has been moved to the federal courthouse in Boston.
According to Boston 25 News, U.S. Attorney Leah Foley said in a statement that 61-year-old James Muzzi of Medford was charged with possession of child pornography on May 7, 2026, and remains detained after an initial appearance in federal court. The charging documents, as reported by Boston 25 News, allege Muzzi’s phone contained thousands of images and videos and included online chat messages in which he and others exchanged multiple videos and messages containing child sexual-abuse material.
What He Faces
Federal law imposes severe penalties for crimes involving child sexual-abuse material. The base statutory range can extend up to 20 years in prison, while a conviction by someone with certain prior sex-related convictions can trigger a recidivist enhancement. The recidivist enhancement in 18 U.S.C. §2252(b)(2) sets a mandatory minimum of 10 years and a 20-year maximum for possession in such circumstances, according to Congress.gov. Similar U.S. Attorney press releases note that sentences in these cases also can include at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and fines up to $250,000, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Past Convictions and Court Status
Prosecutors told Boston 25 News that Muzzi was previously convicted in Massachusetts state court on three counts of distribution of child pornography and two counts of possession. He remains detained after his initial federal appearance and will face further proceedings in the District of Massachusetts.
Investigation and Local Context
The arrest comes amid sustained enforcement in Massachusetts of child sexual-abuse material offenses, which federal and state authorities often pursue jointly through Project Safe Childhood and related task forces. State police and local partners have run multi-jurisdiction sweeps in recent months that led to dozens of arrests, including a November 2025 operation that resulted in more than 50 arrests statewide, according to CBS Boston.
The allegations are drawn from charging documents and public statements, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court. Court calendars and federal filings will determine when the next hearings occur, and prosecutors say the matter remains under active investigation.
