WINCHESTER, MASSACHUSETTS: A family medicine doctor in Massachusetts was arrested on Tuesday, March 14 for alleged possession of vast amounts of images and videos of child sexual abuse material, according to authorities. Brafrod Ferrick faces one count of possession of child pornography and for related state charges, he was already in home detention, as per the press statement released by the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts.
Authorities claimed that many victims fall between the ages of 6 to 11. Several videos containing graphic depictions were seized from a family medicine residency located in at least three Bay State cities in Massachusetts, as reported by Law and Crime.
Authorities received online tips
According to the complaint, three separate online tips were received by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children relating to a suspected internet upload of child pornography in March 2022. In the same month, the tips that were forwarded to the Massachusetts State Police (MSP) were sent to the Winchester Police Department in July. A state-and-local investigation began after the tips were reviewed in January.
On further investigation, the account holder associated with the tips was named 'Tom L'. However, the IP address was linked to Ferrick's father and the Winchester residence that he shared with his parents along with a separate IP address and account linked to Syracuse, New York.
According to the complaint, "On February 13, 2023, members of the Winchester PD and members of the MSP Cyber Crime Unit executed the search warrant. Ferrick and his parents were all at the residence. All three members of the Ferrick family declined to speak with investigators after they had been read their Miranda warnings.”
Police found disturbing evidence during raid
From his Winchester home, a total of 61 devices including hidden camera systems, external hard drives, SD cards, cell phones, and computers were seized as the devices contained child sexual abuse material. Following the raid, Ferrick was taken into custody on a bail of $50,000 and faced four state counts charged with the possession of child pornography. With various conditions, Ferrick was released on February 15 to home confinement.
However, two days after his release, a second search warrant took place as the complaint alleged that he locked one of his iPhones that was seized in order to "potentially erase evidence on the device." From the Winchester home, 11 other devices were seized, according to Law and Crime.
In the same week, additional eight devices which included USB drives and hidden cameras were seized from another residence of Ferrick rented in Massachusetts city. As per the federal press release, evidence gathered from the second raid was particularly disturbing.
The US Attorney's Office stated, "It is alleged that one of the hidden camera devices – which was designed to be worn as a bracelet – was found to contain at least two surreptitiously recorded videos of Ferrick administering medical exams."
"It is alleged that two minors who investigators believe to be patients could be heard and, at times, partially seen in the videos. Forensic review of the devices seized at both residences remains ongoing," the statement added.
