atlantic highlands, n.J., man charged with distribution of child pornography
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
January 20, 2012 |
TRENTON, N.J. – An Atlantic Highlands, N.J., man made his initial court appearance today after surrendering to federal agents from the Department of Homeland Security on charges of distributing child pornography, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.
Danial Hillman, 27, is charged by Complaint with one count of distribution of child pornography and made his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Tonianne J. Bongiovanni in Trenton federal court, where he had surrendered to agents of DHS’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations.
According to the Complaint:
As early as March 25, 2011, Hillman downloaded and distributed videos and images of child pornography on the Internet via peer-to-peer file sharing software – through which others had access to the material on a shared drive. The images downloaded by federal investigators from Hillman’s shared directories included three videos of three children – ages 2, 9 and 10 years old – being sexually abused. Law enforcement officers from the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, who executed a search warrant at Hillman’s home on April 12, 2011, seized multiple computers containing images depicting child pornography.
The charge of distributing child pornography carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, and a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Hillman was released on $50,000 unsecured bond and confined to his home.
U.S. Attorney Fishman praised special agents of the Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, in New Jersey under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Andrew M. McLees; the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Peter E. Warshaw Jr.; and the Atlantic Highlands Police Department, under the direction of Chief Jerry Vasto, with the investigation leading to today’s charges.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney John E. Clabby of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Trenton.
The charge and allegations contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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Defense counsel: Brian Reilly Esq., Assistant Federal Public Defender, Trenton
