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January 24, 2025Portland, ME, United StatesChild Exploitation

HSI investigation leads to 15-year sentence for dark web moderator advertising child sexual abuse material

Michael Posey was identified by HSI Portland while monitoring a dark web site

PORTLAND, Maine — A Kent, Washington man was sentenced Jan. 22 in U.S. District Court in Portland for advertising child pornography after an investigation led by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents found him acting as a moderator on a site on the dark web.

Chief U.S. District Judge Lance E. Walker sentenced Michael Posey, 50, to 180 months to be followed by seven years of supervised release. Posey pleaded guilty on Aug. 29.

In sentencing Posey, the judge noted that communities such as the one in which Posey participated “create a supply chain to satisfy the demand for this poison” and inflict “generational emotional destruction on vulnerable members of our communities,” with untold lasting impact on the young victims.

“Posey used the dark web to advertise abhorrent images capturing the sexual abuse of children who were irreparably harmed in the productions. Now he will remain in prison for a considerable period of time where he cannot be a threat to the public,” said HSI New England Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Krol. “Today's sentence shows the gravity of Posey’s crime and HSI’s commitment to seeking justice for children traumatized by online child sexual exploitation.”

“Mr. Posey helped to create and benefited from a marketplace predicated on vulnerable victims being abused,” said U.S. Attorney Darcie N. McElwee. “Peddling child pornography is not a victimless crime — child sexual abuse material captures the very real, traumatizing, and abhorrent sexual abuse of children, and those children are revictimized every single time that material is shared, by every single person who views it.”

According to court records, in early 2024, HSI Portland special agents were investigating a site on the dark web dedicated to the sexual abuse of children. During the investigation, HSI special agents observed a profile, later identified as belonging to Michael Posey, 49, that held a moderator position and was responsible for approving posts submitted by others. The profile included a password that individuals could use for any files or links provided by the user. A review of the profile’s history revealed a history of postings that dated back to December 2021. Agents logged into the site, reviewed a post made by Posey regarding a collection of 70 videos of child sexual abuse, and accessed a zipped file containing numerous videos including young children. In April 2024, HSI special agents executed a search warrant at Posey’s residence in Kent, Washington. During the interview, Posey confirmed he used the profile on the dark web site and provided agents with his login information.

HSI New England’s Portland Resident Agent in Charge office investigated the case.

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.

Follow us on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @HSINewEngland to learn more about HSI’s global missions and operations.

Updated: 06/13/2025