Anselmo Girimonte, Distribution of Child Pornography, New Jersey 2022

A Morris County man has been charged with distributing videos and images of child sexual abuse, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.

Anselmo Girimonte, 51, of Wharton, New Jersey, is charged by complaint with one count of distribution of child pornography. He appeared by videoconference today before U.S. Magistrate Judge James B. Clark III and was detained.

The charge stems from an investigation that revealed Girimonte distributed material containing images and video files of child sexual abuse via a publicly available online peer-to-peer (P2P) file-sharing network of linked computers from Dec. 27, 2021, through Jan. 17, 2022.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court, law enforcement conducted an undercover online session to access the P2P program and downloaded nine video files containing child pornography from an IP address assigned to an internet service provider account associated with Girimonte’s residence. These files included multiple visual depictions of pre-pubescent children being sexually abused by adults.

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

U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, New Jersey Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jason J. Molina, with the investigation leading to today’s charges. He also thanked the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office, the Rockaway Township Police Department, and the United States Postal Inspection Service for their assistance with the investigation.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Camila A. Garces of the Violent Crimes 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.

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