Rehoboth Man Arrested After Allegedly Collecting CSAM for Years

BOSTON (WBSM) — A Rehoboth man has been arrested and charged after he admitted to sexually exploiting four girls between 12 and 16 years old for more than five years, soliciting sexually explicit messages, photos and videos from them.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Christopher Mota, 29, was charged by criminal complaint with four counts of sexual exploitation of children.

He was arrested this morning in Rehoboth and was expected to make an initial appearance in federal court in Boston today.

How the Investigation Began at Logan Airport

Mota was boarding a flight from Boston Logan International Airport to Aruba on June 5, 2025, when child sexual abuse material (CSAM) was found on his phone. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, a border search of Mota’s luggage revealed that his iPhone 16 Pro Max had a hidden folder in the Photos application that contained apparent CSAM.

Authorities subsequently seized the phone.

Admissions Made to Federal Investigators

Mota admitted to federal authorities that he stored CSAM in the hidden folder on his phone, which he said he obtained from minors via Snapchat, text and Telegram. He told the investigators that he “estimated he has received CSAM from approximately 20 to 25 minor girls,” according to a release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

“When asked how many images or videos of CSAM he has received, Mota allegedly stated, ‘it’s a lot’ and said, ‘probably hundreds,’” the release stated. A preliminary forensic review of the phone revealed Mota had sexually explicit communications and exchanges of CSAM with at least four minor girls.

Potential Penalties Under Federal Law

The charge of sexual exploitation of minors carries 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.