A Belleville man was arrested Sept. 24 on charges that he allegedly possessed images of child sexual abuse and that he distributed them on the internet, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito said.
Mauricio Calderon, 49, of Belleville, is charged by complaint with one count of distribution of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. He was scheduled to make his initial appearance by videoconference Sept. 24 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Edward S. Kiel.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Between March 2020 and April 10, 2020, Calderon reportedly used an Internet-based application to distribute multiple graphic videos depicting the sexual abuse of minors. During the course of the investigation, Calderon allegedly publicly posted in a chatroom multiple videos depicting the sexual abuse of children, and also sent links that redirected to webpages containing child pornography.
Law enforcement reportedly discovered numerous videos and images of child sexual abuse on Calderon’s electronic devices when he was arrested at his home on Sept. 24.
The charge of distribution of child pornography carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and fine of $250,000. The charge of possession of child pornography carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and fine of $250,000.
Carpenito credited special agents with the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, with the investigation leading to these charges. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Shawn Barnes of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Newark.
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