Union County, New Jersey, Man Charged with Receiving Child Pornography

NEWARK, N.J. – A Union County, New Jersey, man appeared in federal court today on charges of receiving images of child sexual abuse, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.

Andrew Chu, 28, of Garwood, New Jersey, is charged by complaint with one count of receipt of child pornography. He made his initial appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael A. Hammer in Newark federal court and was released on $100,000 unsecured bond with home detention and electronic monitoring.

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

In February 2018, Chu downloaded three videos depicting the sexual abuse of children from a child pornography website located on the darknet.

The charge of receipt of child pornography carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison, and a $250,000 fine.

U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents with the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Newark Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Brian A. Michael, with the investigation leading to the charges.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah A. Sulkowski of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Public Protection Unit in Newark.

The charge and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.