Rehoboth man arrested for allegedly sexually exploiting minor females for years

BOSTON – A Rehoboth man has been arrested and charged with allegedly sexually exploiting four minor females between 12 and 16 years old.

According to a release from the Massachusetts Department of Justice, 29-year-old Christopher Mota was charged by criminal complaint with four counts of sexual exploitation of children. Mota was arrested this morning in Rehoboth and will make an initial appearance in federal court in Boston later today.

On June 5, 2025, Mota was scheduled to board a flight from Boston Logan International Airport to Aruba. During a border search of Mota’s luggage, an iPhone 16 Pro Max. was observed which contained a hidden folder in the Photos application containing apparent child sexual abuse material (“CSAM”). The device was subsequently seized. 

During a recorded interview by federal authorities Mota admitted that he stored CSAM in a hidden folder on his phone and that he obtained CSAM from minors via Snapchat, text and Telegram. Mota allegedly stated that he estimated he has received CSAM from approximately 20 to 25 minor girls. When asked how many images or videos of CSAM he has received, Mota allegedly stated, “it’s a lot” and said, “probably hundreds.”

A preliminary forensic review of Mota’s phone revealed that he had sexually explicit communications and exchanges of CSAM with at least four identified minor females, whose identities are known to law enforcement.

The charge of sexual exploitation of minors (and attempt and conspiracy) provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and up to 30 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

United States Attorney Leah Foley and Michael Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Boston Field Office and Rehoboth Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Luke Goldworm, Project Safe Childhood Coordinator and member of the Major Crimes Unit, is prosecuting the case.

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 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.

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