A 59-year-old North Brunswick man faces up to 20 years in prison for allegedly distributing child pornography, according to Acting U.S. Attorney William E. Fitzpatrick.
Richard Scalea was arrested by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Child Exploitation Task Force and charged by criminal complaint with one count of distributing child pornography.
He made his initial appearance on Oct. 5 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Steven C. Mannion in Newark federal court and was detained.
Scalea communicated with an undercover law enforcement officer via an online incest chat room on Aug. 31, 2017, according to documents filed in the case and statements made in court.
In that chat, Scalea claimed to have sexually abused a minor child who was known to him. Scalea then distributed an image of child pornography to the undercover law enforcement officer.
On Oct. 5, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Scalea’s residence and seized computer devices containing multiple images of child sexual abuse.
Anyone with information regarding possible victims of the child sexual abuse is urged to contact the FBI in Newark at 973-792-3000.
The charge of distributing child pornography carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison, a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Acting U.S. Attorney Fitzpatrick credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Timothy Gallagher in Newark, with the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Catherine Murphy of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Newark represented the state.
Scalea was represented by David Holman, Assistant Federal Public Defenders, Newark.
