Chad Weber, Possessing Child Pornography, New Jersey 2015

Defendant Admits to Possessing Explicit Images of Minor

TRENTON, N.J. - A Monmouth County man has admitted to possessing sexually explicit images of a 12-year-old Pennsylvania girl with whom he had an online relationship.

Chad Weber, 22, of Colt's Neck, New Jersey, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Anne E. Thompson in Trenton federal court to an information charging him with one count of possessing images of child pornography.

According to documents filed in the case and statements made in court, Weber had been communicating with a 12-year-old girl from Pennsylvania in February and April 2013. The communications were sexually explicit, and Weber and the victim traded sexually explicit photographs of each other through the internet.

Weber admitted possessing these sexually explicit photographs of the minor victim on his cell phone and computer. As part of his guilty plea, Weber must forfeit the computer and cell phone he used to commit the offense. He will also be required to register as a sex offender.

The possession of child pornography count to which Weber pleaded guilty carries a statutory maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for June 22, 2015.

U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman credited special agents of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Kevin Kelly in Newark, for the investigation leading to today's guilty plea.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Molly Lorber of the U.S. Attorney's Office Criminal Division in Trenton. Defense counsel is Brian P. Reilly Esq., Assistant Federal Public Defender, Trenton.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-nj/pr/monmouth-county-new-jersey-man-admits-possessing-explicit-images-12-year-old-pennsylvania