October 8, 2014

Union County Man Sentenced to More Than 10 Years in Prison for Distributing Images of Child Sexual Abuse

NEWARK, NJ—A Union County, New Jersey, man was sentenced today to 121 months in prison for distributing images of child sexual abuse over the Internet, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.

Carl Tullis III, 50, of Plainfield, New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Faith S. Hochberg to Count One of an indictment charging him with distribution of child pornography. Judge Hochberg imposed the sentence today in Newark federal court.

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

Tullis admitted that on March 26, 2011, he made available for others to download via an online peer-to-peer, file-sharing network images and videos of child sexual abuse that were stored on his home computer. An undercover FBI agent successfully downloaded from Tullis multiple images and videos of child sexual abuse via the file sharing network. A subsequent search of Tullis’ computers and computer accessories revealed that he had:

  • 1,634 images of child sexual abuse
  • 1,420 videos of child sexual abuse
  • Multiple images and videos of child pornography involving sadistic or masochistic conduct and bestiality
  • Multiple images and videos of child sexual abuse involving infants

As part of his guilty plea, Tullis agreed to forfeit the computers and computer accessories he used to commit the offense. He will also be required to register as a sex offender.

In addition to the prison term, Judge Hochberg sentenced Tullis to five years of supervised release and pay restitution of $8,000 to each of two victims.

U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of the FBI’s Child Exploitation Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Aaron T. Ford in Newark, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencing.

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