Union County, New Jersey, Man Sentenced To 20 Years In Prison For Distributing Images Of Child Sexual Abuse Over The Internet

NEWARK, N.J. – A Linden, New Jersey, man was sentenced today to 240 months in prison for emailing multiple videos and pictures of child sexual abuse, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.

John Ellenbacher, 49, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Katharine S. Hayden to an information charging him with one count of distributing images of child pornography over the Internet. Judge Hayden imposed the sentence today in Newark federal court.

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

Ellenbacher admitted that between Aug. 15, 2012, and Aug. 21, 2012, he distributed 90 images and six videos depicting child sexual abuse to others via email. During his plea hearing, Ellenbacher also admitted to possessing more than 600 images and videos of child pornography on computer devices seized by federal law enforcement agents when they executed a search warrant at his home on March 20, 2013.

In addition to the prison term, Judge Hayden sentenced Ellenbacher to lifetime supervised release. As part of his guilty plea, Ellenbacher agreed to forfeit the computers and computer accessories he used to commit the offense. He will also be required to register as a sex offender.

U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), under the direction of Special Agent in Charge John P. Woods, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencing.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Danielle Alfonzo Walsman of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Newark.

Defense counsel: Candace Hom Esq., Assistant Federal Public Defender, Newark