Skip to main content
Press Release

Eight Years In Prison For Youth Organization Leader Who Admitted Sexually Abusing Children, Possessing Images Of Child Sexual Abuse

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of New Jersey

NEWARK, N.J. – A Union County, New Jersey man who admitted sexually abusing children and possessing images of child sexual abuse was sentenced today to 96 months in prison, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.

Gregory J. Aker, 46, of Linden, New Jersey previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Susan G. Wigenton to an information charging him with possession of child pornography. Judge Wigenton imposed the sentence today in Newark federal court.

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

Aker was a leader with a boys’ youth organization and a religious education teacher with his church. On Feb. 22, 2014, Aker was arrested by the Linden Police Department for sexual assault and endangering the welfare of two minor children.

After his arrest, law enforcement obtained multiple computers and electronic storage media from Aker’s residence. Today, Aker admitted that the devices belonged to him and contained more than 600 images and dozens of videos of child sexual abuse that he knowingly collected. Aker also admitted sexually abusing more than one child who was known to him on more than one occasion.

In addition to the prison term, Judge Wigenton sentenced Aker to a lifetime of supervised release. Aker will be required to register as a sex offender.

U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents with the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Timothy Gallagher in Newark, the New Jersey Regional Computer Forensics Laboratory, the Union County Prosecutor’s Office and the Linden Police Department with the investigation leading to today’s sentencing.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Danielle Alfonzo Walsman of the U.S. Attorney’s Criminal Division in Newark.

Defense counsel: Jeffrey Hark Esq., Cherry Hill, New Jersey                                                                                                                      

Updated September 2, 2016

Topic
Project Safe Childhood
Press Release Number: 16-120