Man Who Allegedly Recorded Girls with Hidden Camera Faces Federal Child Pornography Charge
| U.S. Attorney’s Office April 09, 2012 |
NEWARK—A man who allegedly installed hidden cameras in his home to record young girls appeared in court today to face a federal child pornography charge, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.
Ronald Oshrin, 49, of Budd Lake, New Jersey, is charged by complaint with one count of distribution of child pornography. He appeared this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Patty Shwartz in Newark federal court and was detained pending a hearing scheduled for April 12, 2012.
According to the complaint filed in this case and statements made in court:
In February 2012, FBI agents became aware of postings on a known child pornography website, which were traced to an IP address located at Oshrin’s home. FBI agents visited Oshrin’s residence April 5, 2012, at which time the defendant voluntarily accompanied the agents to be interviewed. He was arrested later that day.
A hard drive removed from the home contained images—which appear to be taken with a hidden camera—of prepubescent girls in various states of undress. The complaint alleges that Oshrin, a computer programmer, installed cameras in several locations throughout his home—including in a bathroom and bedroom.
The charge of distributing child pornography carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, 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 Cyber Crime Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael B. Ward, for the investigation leading to the charge. The investigation is ongoing.
The government is represented by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Constantine Soupios 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.
Anyone who believes he or she has information relevant to the investigation is encouraged to contact the FBI at 973-792-3000.