Separate investigations have netted 15 individuals who have been charged with possessing and/or trafficking child sexual abuse materials, Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni announced on Oct. 19.
Between July 21 and Oct. 15, the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Computer Crimes Unit and the Monmouth County Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force arrested the individuals, according to a press release from the prosecutor’s office.
Assisting in the operation were members of the New Jersey State Police Digital Technology Investigations Unit; the New Jersey ICAC Task Force; Homeland Security Investigations; the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office; the Monmouth County ICAC Task Force, which includes members from the Eatontown, Howell, Long Branch, Manalapan, Marlboro, Neptune Township, Spring Lake, Tinton Falls and Holmdel police departments; and support from the Asbury Park, Aberdeen Township, Middletown, Highlands, Freehold Township and Freehold Borough police departments.
The arrests were designed to reduce online threats to Monmouth County to decrease the
market for child sexual exploitation by focusing on individuals seeking out and trafficking in child pornographic materials, according to the press release.
The following individuals were arrested:
• Antonio Mejia, 38, of Asbury Park, was charged with one count of second degree endangering the welfare of a child (distribution of child sexual abuse materials), one count of attempted endangering the welfare of a child (manufacturing an image of child exploitation material), one count of endangering the welfare of a child (possession
of child sexual abuse materials), three counts of endangering the welfare of a child, and three counts of attempted obscenity to minors;
• Brody Sullivan, 20, of Aberdeen Township, was charged with one count of second degree endangering the welfare of a child (possession of child sexual abuse material);
• Anthony Lichtenau, 36, of Eatontown, was charged with one count of third degree endangering the welfare of a child (possession of child sexual abuse material);
• Matthew Fahmie, 33, of Middletown, was charged with one count of second degree endangering the welfare of a child (possession of child sexual abuse materials);
• Valentin Valdetano, 20, of Long Branch, was charged with second degree endangering
the welfare of a child (distribution of child sexual abuse materials) and third degree endangering the welfare of a child (possession of child sexual abuse materials);
• Zachary Barnett, 24, of Aberdeen Township, was charged with one count of third degree endangering the welfare of a child (possession of child sexual abuse materials);
• Brian Wioncek, 62, of Highlands, was charged with one count of third degree endangering the welfare of a child (possession of child sexual abuse materials);
• Joseph Hynes, 21, of Freehold Borough, was charged with one count of third degree endangering the welfare of a child (possession of child sexual abuse materials) and one count of disorderly persons possession of a controlled dangerous substance;
• Michael Townend, 19, of Howell, was charged with one count of third degree endangering the welfare of a child (possession of child sexual abuse materials);
• Robert Sherman, 62, of Highlands, was charged with one count of third degree endangering the welfare of a child (possession of child sexual abuse materials);
• Michael Pipitone, 38, of Middletown, was charged with one count of first degree endangering the welfare of a child (distribution of child sexual abuse materials) and second degree endangering the welfare of a child (possession of child sexual
abuse materials);
• George Ichkitidze, 39, of Freehold Township, was charged with one count of
first degree endangering the welfare of a child (distribution of child sexual abuse materials) and second degree endangering the welfare of a child (possession of child sexual abuse materials);
• A juvenile resident of Freehold Borough was charged with one count of second degree endangering the welfare of a child (possession of child sexual abuse materials);
• Thomas Vilanova, 49, of Howell, was charged with one count of third degree endangering the welfare of a child (possession of child sexual abuse material). The prosecutor’s office reported that Vilanova is currently on probation for a 2017 conviction for endangering the welfare of a child (possession of child sexual abuse material);
• Jamie Khan, 43, of East Windsor, was charged on Oct. 15 following an investigation that revealed he was allegedly viewing and sending child sexual abuse material while working for his employer in Freehold Township.
The investigation further revealed Khan was also allegedly in possession of child sexual abuse material at his home in East Windsor.
Khan was charged with one count of third degree endangering the welfare of a child (possession of child sexual abuse material) and one count of second degree
endangering the welfare of a child (distribution of child sexual abuse material).
Ichkitidze’s case is assigned to Assistant Prosecutor Diane Aifer, Financial Crimes and Public
Corruption Unit; the remaining cases are assigned to Assistant Prosecutor Stephanie Dugan, Computer Crimes Unit, according to the press release.
