Camden County, New Jersey, Man Admits Possessing Child Pornography While On Federal Supervised Release, State Parole

CAMDEN, N.J. - A previously convicted sex offender from Bellmawr, New Jersey, today admitted possessing images of child pornography that he acquired through social media and email correspondence with two boys, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.

Robert Pelle, 50, pleaded guilty before Chief U.S. District Judge Jerome B. Simandle in Camden federal court to an information charging him with one count of knowingly possessing child pornography.

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

From April 2013 through July 2013, Pelle was still on supervised release and state parole after being incarcerated for possession of child pornography and related state charges from 2007. Pelle admitted today that in July 2013, he used a public library computer to access social networks and sexually explicit websites, which he was not permitted to do under conditions of his parole.

In addition, Pelle admitted that from April 2013 through July 2013, he used social media accounts and email to pose as a minor and communicate with two young boys. During the correspondence, Pelle asked one boy to send nude images of himself, which he did. Pelle also admitted sending one of those images to the other boy.

As a previously convicted sex offender, Pelle faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison, a lifetime of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. Pelle also faces an additional five years in prison because the crime was committed while on federal supervised release. Sentencing is scheduled for May 6, 2016.

U.S. Attorney Fishman credited agents of the FBI’s South Jersey Resident Agency, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge William F. Sweeney Jr. in Philadelphia, with the investigation leading to today’s plea. He also thanked the parole officers of the New Jersey Department of Parole, under the direction of Chairman James Plousis, and detectives from the Bellmawr Police Department, under the direction of Chief William Walsh, for their assistance.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara A. Aliabadi of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Camden.

Defense counsel: Lori M. Koch, Esquire and Edward J. Crisonino, Esquire, Camden