Ocean County Man Charged With Sexually Exploiting Minors

TRENTON, N.J. – An Ocean County, New Jersey man was arrested yesterday for enticing minors to produce videos and images of child exploitation material and for receiving videos and images depicting child pornography, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.

Daniel Nilla, 35, Brick, New Jersey, was charged by complaint with two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor and one count of receipt of child pornography. He made his initial appearance on Aug. 3, 2023, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Douglas E. Arpert in Trenton federal court and was detained.

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

From on or about December 12, 2021, to on or about April 28, 2023, Nilla was communicating with and receiving images and videos containing child exploitation material from five minor victims on a multimedia instant messaging application. Nilla induced at least two of those minor victims to send him images and videos of themselves engaging in sexually explicit conduct.

The charges of sexual exploitation of a minor each carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison, a maximum potential penalty of 30 years in prison, and a $250,000 fine. The charge of receipt of child exploitation material carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 5 years in prison, a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison, and a $250,000 fine.

U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark, with the investigation. U.S. Attorney Sellinger also thanked special agents of the FBI Kansas City, Kansas Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Charles A. Dayoub, and the City of Edwardsville, Kansas Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police Mark Mathies.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Super Pitts of the Criminal Division in Trenton.

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