Cambridge teacher, Maryland man charged in federal child exploitation case

BOSTON (WWLP) - A former Massachusetts music teacher and a man residing in Maryland face federal charges for allegedly conspiring to sexually exploit minor boys in the Philippines.

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Joshua DeWitte, 50, of Cambridge, and Christopher Allan Tisoy, 27, a Filipino national living in Baltimore, were each charged with one count of sexual exploitation of minors, including attempt and conspiracy.

Authorities say DeWitte paid more than $23,000 to Tisoy in exchange for video footage documenting the abuse of children overseas.

DeWitte was arrested Wednesday and appeared in federal court in Boston, where he was ordered held pending a detention hearing set for May 12. Tisoy, who entered the U.S. in September 2024 on an H-1B visa and works as a medical technologist at Sinai Hospital of Baltimore, was arrested Tuesday in Maryland. He is scheduled for a detention hearing on May 14 in the District of Maryland.

According to the criminal complaint, DeWitte was identified in December 2024 as the user of a Snapchat account that uploaded suspected child sexual abuse material (CSAM), including a video showing a boy estimated to be between eight and ten years old. Further investigation allegedly uncovered sexually explicit conversations DeWitte had with Snapchat users posing as minors, during which he solicited nude images, sent photos of himself, and discussed arranging in-person encounters.

Authorities also allege DeWitte offered money to other Snapchat users to acquire child pornography and help recruit minor boys. Following the discovery, state police executed a search warrant at DeWitte’s Cambridge residence in January 2025, leading to his arrest on state charges including dissemination of obscene material to a child and possession of child pornography. He was released on conditions before the federal charges were filed this week.

A forensic examination of DeWitte's cellphone revealed disturbing conversations via the Telegram messaging app, according to prosecutors. In one exchange, DeWitte allegedly boasted about prior abuse overseas, writing, “I was in the Philippines. Most of my vids are from there, and that’s where I was with a 10 yo and 12. 16 yo in Japan and Korea.”

Investigators say DeWitte's communications with Tisoy included discussions about which boys to exploit, what acts they should perform, and how the footage should be recorded--including camera angles and whether a third party or the victims themselves should film. The pair allegedly exchanged preferences to tailor the videos to their gratification, with Tisoy instructing the victims accordingly.

Between July 2023 and December 2024, DeWitte allegedly sent 87 PayPal payments to Tisoy ranging from $27 to $958, totaling approximately $23,752. These payments were reportedly made in direct exchange for videos documenting the sexual exploitation of minors.

The charge of sexual exploitation of a minor, including attempt and conspiracy, carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum of 30 years, along with up to a $250,000 fine and supervised release ranging from five years to life.