Repeat Offender Admits Possession of Child Pornography

NEWARK, N.J. – A Hudson County, New Jersey, man today admitted possessing images of child sexual abuse, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.

Christopher Carvajal, 30, of North Bergen, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Claire C. Cecchi in Newark federal court to an information charging him with one count of possession of child pornography.

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

In April 2023, Carvajal’s iPhone was seized at Newark International Airport. A search revealed that Carvajal’s iPhone contained more than 900 video files and more than 400 image files depicting sexual abuse of minors, including infants or toddlers. Carvajal’s iPhone also contained communications in which Carvajal discussed his desire for sexual encounters with young children. Carvajal was previously convicted in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Bergen County, of a child pornography offense.

Possession of child pornography carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison for a defendant with a prior conviction of a child pornography offense, a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and a fine of $250,000. Sentencing is scheduled for XX.

U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of Homeland Security Investigations Newark, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael Alfonso, with the investigation leading to the charges.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Specht of the Opioid Abuse Prevention and Enforcement Unit in Newark.