New Jersey Pair Charged With Production Of Child Pornography

PHILADELPHIA - Burton Gersh, 68, and Les Sidweber, 73, both of Cherry Hill, NJ, were charged today by indictment with two counts each of production of child pornography, announced United States Attorney Zane David Memeger.

According to court documents, Gersh and Sidweber transported two minors, ages 16 and 17, from the Philadelphia area, on multiple occasions, to their homes in Cherry Hill, where Sidweber photographed the juveniles engaging in sexually explicit conduct at Gersh's behest.

If convicted the defendants face a mandatory minimum term of 15 years in prison, with a maximum possible sentence of 60 years in prison, a $500,000 fine, a period of supervised release of five years to life, and a $200 special assessment. 

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Cherry Hill, New Jersey Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michelle Morgan.

An Indictment or an Information is an accusation.  A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Click here to read the indictment.

UNITED STATES ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, EASTERN DISTRICTof PENNSYLVANIA
Suite 1250, 615 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106
PATTY HARTMAN, Media Contact, 215-861-8525