An Essex County man admitted to using a Web-based application to distribute multiple images and videos of child sexual abuse, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced Tuesday, Feb. 15.
Mauricio Calderon, 51, of Belleville, pleaded guilty by videoconference before U.S. District Judge Claire C. Cecchi to an information charging him with one count of distribution of child pornography.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Between March 2020 and April 10, 2020, Calderon used an encrypted, Internet-based application to distribute multiple graphic videos depicting the sexual assault of minors. During the course of the investigation, Calderon publicly posted multiple videos depicting the sexual abuse of children, some of which featured infants and toddlers, in a chatroom and also sent links that redirected to Web-pages containing child pornography.
Law enforcement also discovered numerous videos and images of child sexual abuse on Calderon’s electronic devices when he was arrested at his home in September 2020.
The charge of distribution of child pornography carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and fine of $250,000. Sentencing is scheduled for June 23, 2022.
Learn more about the writer ...
Kevin A. Canessa Jr. is the editor of and broadcaster at The Observer, a place where he has served on and off since 2006. He is responsible for the editorial content of the newspaper and website, the production of the e-Newspaper, writing several stories per week (including the weekly editorial), conducting live broadcasts on Facebook Live, including a weekly recap of the news — and much more behind the scenes. Between 2006 and 2008, he introduced the newspaper to its first-ever blog — which included podcasts, audio and video. Originally from Jersey City, Kevin lived in Kearny until 2004, lived in Port St. Lucie. Florida, for four years until February 2016 and in March of that year, he moved back to West Hudson to return to The Observer full time. Click Here to send Kevin an email.