Union County, New Jersey, Man Admits Distributing Sexually Explicit Images And Videos Of Children

TRENTON, N.J. – A Union County, New Jersey, man today admitted he used his home computer to distribute sexually explicit videos and images of children, Acting U.S. Attorney William E. Fitzpatrick announced.

Thomas J. Leonard, 35, of Elizabeth, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Brian R. Martinotti in Trenton federal court to an information charging him with one count of distributing child pornography.

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

Leonard used a file-sharing program to obtain and distribute over the Internet images and videos of children engaged in sexual acts.

The count to which Leonard pleaded guilty carries a statutory mandatory minimum term of five years in prison, a maximum of 20 years in prison, and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 29, 2018.

Acting U.S. Attorney Fitzpatrick credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Timothy Gallagher, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea. He also thanked the Union County Prosecutor’s Office, the N.J. State Police, and the N.J. Regional Computer Forensics Laboratory, for their assistance.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Veronica Allende of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Trenton.

Anyone with information regarding possible victims of this activity is urged to contact the FBI in Newark: 973-792-3000.

Defense counsel: Rubin M. Sinins Esq., Springfield, New Jersey