Union County Man Indicted for Distributing Child Sexual Abuse Images Over the Internet

NEWARK—A Union County, New Jersey man was indicted today by a federal grand jury for possessing and distributing over the Internet images depicting child sex abuse, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.

Carl Tullis Sr., 48, of Plainfield, New Jersey, was previously arrested in June 2011. He was indicted today on two counts of distribution of child pornography and one count of possession.

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

On June 2, 2011, special agents of the FBI executed a search warrant at Tullis’ residence. They seized digital evidence that contained more than 1,600 images and 1,400 videos depicting child sexual abuse, including material that involved prepubescent minors and material that portrays sadistic or masochistic conduct. The digital evidence seized included files previously downloaded from Tullis by law enforcement agents working in an undercover capacity on a publicly available peer-to-peer network.

On the distribution counts, Tullis faces a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum potential penalty of 20 years and a $250,000 fine. On the possession count, he faces a maximum penalty of five 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 Acting Special Agent in Charge David Velazquez, with the investigation leading to today’s indictment.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Osmar J. Benvenuto and Courtney M. Oliva of the U.S. Attorney’s Office General Crimes Unit in Newark.