Hudson County, N.J., Man Indicted For Distributing Images Of Child Sexual Abuse Over The Internet

NEWARK, N.J. – A Hudson County, N.J., man was charged today in an Indictment with one count each of possessing and distributing images of child sex abuse over the Internet, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.

Jonathan Martin, 23, of Jersey City, N.J., and Short Hills, N.J., was previously arrested on a Complaint and is currently in federal custody.

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

On August 7, 2012, special agents of the FBI executed a search warrant at Martin’s Jersey City residence and seized digital evidence containing more than 2000 images depicting child sexual abuse, including prepubescent minors and portrayals of sadistic or masochistic conduct. The digital evidence seized included 50 files previously downloaded from Martin by law enforcement agents working in an undercover capacity on a publicly available peer-to-peer network.

On the distribution count, Martin faces a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum potential penalty of 20 years, 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, and the Jersey City Police Department, under the direction of Acting Police Director Robert Kakoleski and Chief Thomas Comey with the investigation leading to today’s Indictment.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Danielle Alfonzo Walsman of the U.S. Attorney’s Office General Crimes Unit in Newark.

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Defense counsel: Alan Zegas Esq., Chatham, N.J.

Martin, Jonathan Indictment