An Englishtown resident has been accused of allegedly producing and distributing images of himself sexually assaulting a child, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced on March 26.
Christian Importuna, 24, has been charged by complaint with one count of production of child pornography and one count of distribution of child pornography, according to a press release. He was arrested at his home on the morning of March 26 special agents of the FBI.
His initial appearance before a U.S. Magistrate Judge was scheduled for March 26.
According to documents filed in the case and to statements made in court: Importuna allegedly produced at least two videos that showed him sexually assaulting a child. The videos came to the attention of law enforcement officials on March 24 when Importuna allegedly attempted to trade images of child pornography with an undercover law enforcement officer on an internet-based application.
Law enforcement personnel initially linked the videos to Importuna through business records indicating they were sent from his Englishtown residence. The investigation further linked Importuna to the production of the images through physical identifiers that were visible in the subject videos, according to documents filed in the case and to statements made in court.
The charge of production of child pornography carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison, a maximum potential penalty of 30 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The charge of distribution of child pornography carries a mandatory minimum of five years in prison, a maximum of 20 years in prison,and a $250,000 fine.
Carpenito credited FBI Newark’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Gregory W. Ehrie in Newark, with the investigation leading to the charges.
He also thanked the New Jersey Regional Computer Forensics Lab, the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office and the Englishtown Police Department for their assistance with the investigation.
