New York Man Admits Producing Images Of Child Sexual Abuse

NEWARK, N.J. – A Pearl River, New York, man today admitted photographing and filming a child engaged in sexually explicit conduct and sharing those images online, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.

Richard Murphy, 32, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge John Michael Vazquez in Newark federal court to an information charging him with sexual exploitation of a minor.

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

Murphy admitted that in December 2016, he persuaded a child to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of taking photos and videos of that conduct. Murphy also admitted that he took video of the child performing a sex act on him. In addition, Murphy admitted that he shared the sexually explicit images with another individual online.

The sexual exploitation charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison, a maximum potential penalty of 30 years in prison, and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 25, 2018.

U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Brian Michael, with the investigation.

The government is represented Assistant U.S. Attorneys Danielle Alfonzo Walsman, Chief of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Public Protection Unit, and Leticia Vandehaar, Chief of Staff to the U.S. Attorney.

Defense counsel: David I. Goldstein, Chestnut Ridge, New York