Union County Man Arrested, Charged with Distributing Images of Child Sexual Abuse

NEWARK, NJ—Law enforcement officers arrested a Union County, New Jersey man today after discovering alleged child pornography on his home computer during a search following an undercover investigation, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.

Andrew Johnson, 29, of Cranford, New Jersey, is charged by complaint with one count of distributing images of child sexual abuse over the Internet. Johnson appeared on the complaint this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Steven C. Mannion in Newark federal court and was released on a $100,000 bond.

According to the criminal complaint filed today:

On July 3, 2012, December 7, 2012, and April 4, 2013, Johnson distributed videos and images depicting child sexual abuse on the Internet via peer-to-peer file sharing software, which allowed others access to the material in shared directories. An undercover agent discovered and downloaded the images and videos, and the username and IP address of the sharer was traced back to Johnson’s residence.

Johnson was arrested after FBI special agents executed a search warrant today at his Cranford home.

The possession count carries a minimum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of the FBI, Newark Division’s Child Exploitation Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Aaron T. Ford, and the Cranford Police Department with the investigation leading to today’s arrest.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Danielle Alfonzo Walsman of the U.S. Attorney’s Office General Crimes Unit in Newark.

The charge and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.