A Disney Cruise Line worker, Tirso Neri, was recently arrested on child pornography charges, making him the third crew member at the cruise company to face such allegations this year. Neri, 44, was a crew member on the Disney Dream ship and was arrested by U.S. Border Control and Homeland Security agents after sexually explicit images and videos of children as young as 9 years old were discovered on his phone. The investigation into Neri began on December 18 when agents boarded the Disney Dream ship at the Port Everglades port in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and searched Neri’s cabin. Two phones in Neri’s possession were confiscated, and it was later revealed that he had a folder on a device with explicit material of a minor victim.
Neri confessed to downloading adult pornography and purchasing links containing explicit content from group chats on Telegram and Facebook Messenger. He claimed that he received a folder with images and videos of a 17-year-old girl from one of these group chats and saved it to his phone without examining its contents. However, a forensic review of his phone later determined that the images were saved and viewed by Neri. Additionally, other videos found on his phone allegedly depicted a boy and girl engaging in sexual activity and a young girl naked with a man, with the text “9 years old delicious” written in Filipino. Neri has been charged with possession and transportation of child pornography and is currently being held at the Broward Main Jail.
A spokesperson for Disney Cruise Line confirmed that Neri is no longer employed by the company, citing their zero-tolerance policy for such behavior. This incident marks the third time this year that a Disney Cruise Line employee has been arrested and charged with felony possession of child pornography. Two other employees, Alvin Gonzales and Amiel Trazo, were arrested and charged in January. Gonzales, 49, and Trazo, 28, are also from the Philippines and worked aboard the Disney Dream ship. The company has stated that they take such allegations seriously and are cooperating with authorities in the investigation and prosecution of these cases.
The discovery of child pornography in the possession of a Disney Cruise Line worker raises concerns about the safety and security of passengers aboard cruise ships. The incidents involving Neri, Gonzales, and Trazo highlight the potential risks associated with employing individuals who may pose a threat to children. It is important for cruise companies to conduct thorough background checks and implement strict policies and procedures to prevent and address issues related to child exploitation and abuse. The incidents serve as a reminder of the need for vigilance and oversight in the hiring and supervision of cruise ship employees to ensure the safety and well-being of passengers, especially children.
The arrest of Tirso Neri on child pornography charges has raised questions about the effectiveness of Disney Cruise Line’s screening and vetting processes for employees, particularly those who may have access to children during their employment. The fact that Neri, Gonzales, and Trazo were all able to obtain and possess child pornography while working for the company suggests a potential gap in the company’s hiring practices. Cruise companies must prioritize the safety and security of passengers, especially vulnerable populations such as children, by implementing robust screening procedures and providing training and oversight to employees to prevent and respond to incidents of child exploitation. The incidents involving Disney Cruise Line employees highlight the need for industry-wide standards and regulations to address child exploitation and abuse in the cruise ship industry and protect passengers from harm.
