Burlington County Man Admits Possessing Child Pornography

NEWARK, N.J. – A Burlington County, New Jersey, man today admitted possessing multiple images and videos of child sexual abuse, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.

Dennis Nerolich, 68, of Burlington, New Jersey, and formerly of New Egypt, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Brian R. Martinotti in Newark federal court to an information charging him with possession of child pornography.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

From March 2016 to May 1, 2018, Nerolich possessed multiple images and videos of child sexual abuse. Nerolich received the images and videos from his roommate or landlord at the time, Frank Maile.

On Sept. 6, 2023, Maile pleaded guilty before Judge Martinotti to Count Four of a five-count indictment, charging him with travelling in foreign commerce and engaging in illicit sexual conduct, that is, a sexual act with a person under 18 years of age, a commercial sex act, and production of child pornography. Maile is scheduled to be sentenced on June 27, 2024.

The charge of possession of child pornography carries a statutory maximum of 10 years in prison, and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 6, 2024.

U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of Homeland Security Investigations Newark, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge William S. Walker, with the investigation leading to the guilty plea.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elisa T. Wiygul of the Criminal Division in Camden.