Bergen County, N.J., Man Convicted Of Distributing, Receiving And Possessing Images Of Child Sexual Abuse

NEWARK, N.J. – A Bergen County, N.J., man was convicted today of two counts of distribution of child pornography, two counts of receipt of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.

The jury returned the guilty verdict against Martin J. Villalobos, 41, of Lodi, N.J., following a one-week trial before U.S. District Judge Stanley R. Chesler in Newark federal court.

According to documents filed in this case and the evidence at trial:

As part of an undercover investigation, special agents of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations discovered an individual sharing images of child pornography over the internet. Agents used the IP address of the computer to identify Villalobos as the individual sharing the child pornography. After obtaining a search warrant, agents found Villalobos in a locked bedroom with eight computer hard drives, more than 100 DVDs and other electronic media. A forensic analysis of the materials found in Villalobos’s bedroom revealed that he was in possession of more than 5,000 photographs and more than 150 videos of minors and prepubescent minors, nude and/or engaged in sexual acts with one another and with adults. Other evidence found in Villalobos’s possession showed that he routinely used the internet to solicit, receive and distribute child pornography.

The receipt and distribution counts each carry a minimum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. The possession count carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for April 11, 2013.

U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of ICE HSI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Andrew M. McLees in Newark, for the investigation leading to today’s conviction.

The government is represented Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph B. Shumofsky and Nicholas P. Grippo of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Newark.

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Defense counsel: Pro se