NEWARK, N.J. – A Union County, New Jersey, man today
admitted distributing multiple images and videos depicting child sexual abuse,
as well as soliciting two children to engage in sexually explicit conduct
online, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Christopher Gardiner, 36, of Cranford, New Jersey, pleaded
guilty before U.S. District Judge Kevin McNulty in Newark federal court to an
indictment charging him with one count of distributing child pornography and
two counts of online enticement of a minor to engage in criminal sexual
conduct.
According to documents filed in this case and statements
made in court:
Between March 2018 and June 2018, Gardiner engaged an
undercover agent in an ongoing sexually graphic conversation on a web-based
social media application. During the course of the conversation, Gardiner
publicly posted in a chatroom multiple videos depicting the sexual abuse of
children and sent similar videos to the undercover agent directly. Law
enforcement subsequently discovered numerous images and videos of child
pornography on Gardiner’s electronic devices when he was arrested at his home
in August 2018.
During a forensic examination of Gardiner’s electronic
devices, law enforcement discovered multiple conversations in which Gardiner
engaged children in sexually explicit conversations and encouraged them to
record themselves engaging in criminal sexual conduct. Law enforcement
subsequently identified the children and confirmed that they were under the age
of 18 at the time of their conversations with Gardiner.
Gardiner was previously convicted of endangering the welfare
of a child and distribution of child pornography in Union County in 2007. For a
repeat offender, the charge of distribution of child pornography carries a
mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison, a maximum potential penalty of
40 years in prison, and a $250,000 fine. The charges of online enticement carry
a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum potential penalty
of life imprisonment, and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for March 4,
2020.
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the FBI,
under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Gregory W. Ehrie in Newark, with
the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea.
The government is represented by Special Assistant U.S.
Attorney Shawn Barnes of the U.S. Attorney’s Criminal Division in Newark.
Defense counsel: Michael B. Campagna Esq., Elizabeth, New
Jersey
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