Nanny Stephanie Lak Arrested By Boston Police In Child Pornography Investigation

BOSTON (CBS) – Boston Police have charged a nanny in a child pornography investigation and they're looking for alleged victims to come forward. Stephanie Lak, 36, of Roxbury, was arrested Wednesday.

Police said they got a cyber tip about her back on March 2 from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. She's charged with possession of child pornography and distribution of material of a child in a sex act.

Neighbors watched as the police raided Lak's room in mid-April at a boarding house on Woodville Street. "I seen a whole fleet of police officers and FBI agents and I'm like what's going on," a neighbor told WBZ.

Boston Police and the FBI say they traced an IP address back to the home after it had been flagged -- and discovered that Lak had received and distributed roughly 100 files of child porn. Court documents detail disturbing videos showing toddlers and young children being sexually abused that Lak allegedly sent via an online messaging app.

Prosecutors said Lak was active on the childcare website Sittercity as recently as last month and has a long history as a babysitter and nanny.

Investigators said they found communications from Lak in which she identified as a nanny and was in a virtual conversation with a caregiver from Minnesota "encouraging him to harm children in his care and, in fact, volunteered to assist him in doing so."

The FBI said, "If you or your minor dependent(s) have been in contact with Stephanie Lak and think you may be a victim of the allegations in this case, please email Lakinvestigation@fbi.gov and provide your name and best contact information to have a member of the investigative team contact you."

The children in the videos have not been identified.

At her arraignment Wednesday afternoon, prosecutors asked for $50,000 cash bail. A judge set cash bail at $5,000 with a series of conditions including staying away from children under the age of 18, and no employment involving childcare.

Boston Police said the identities of all victims will be kept confidential and they may be eligible for "certain services and rights under state and/or federal law."

People can also call the Boston Neighborhood Trauma Team at (617) 431-0125 or visit BPHC.org/trauma.

In a statement, Sittercity said they worked to bring Lak to justice and immediately removed her from their platform. Sittercity said four background checks were run on Lak and no criminal information was discovered.