New York Man Sentenced to 27 Months in Prison for Possessing Images of Child Sexual Abuse

NEWARK, NJ—A New City, New York man and former employee of a New Jersey country club was sentenced today to 37 months in prison for possessing images on his computer of children being sexually abused, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.

John C. Zerega, 55, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Kevin McNulty to a one-count information charging him with possession of child pornography. Judge McNulty imposed the sentence today in Newark federal court.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

As early as October 19, 2011, Zerega downloaded videos and images of child pornography on the Internet via peer-to-peer file sharing software. On December 20, 2011, law enforcement officials executed a search warrant at Zerega’s residence and seized his laptop computer, which contained numerous pictures and videos depicting child pornography, including pictures of prepubescent children engaging in sexual activity and being sexually abused.

In addition to the prison term, Judge McNulty sentenced Zerega to 10 years of supervised release and required him to get mental health testing and treatment. Zerega also must register as a sex offender.

U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of the FBI Newark Division’s Cyber Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Aaron T. Ford in Newark, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencing.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Vikas Khanna of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Special Prosecutions Division.