Cumberland County Man Charged with Child Pornography

CAMDEN, N.J. – A Cumberland County, New Jersey, man was arrested today for allegedly distributing and possessing images of child sexual abuse, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig announced.

Edwin Torres, aka “Macho Torres,” 38, of Bridgeton, New Jersey, is charged by complaint with one count of distribution of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. He appeared today via videoconference before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ann Marie Donio in Camden federal court and was detained without bail.

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

In May 2020, a user of a social media application uploaded to a public chat group multiple videos of child sexual abuse from an internet provider address linked to Torres’ residence. In September 2021, law enforcement agents executed search warrants at Torres’ residence and on a Google account associated with the social media account used to distribute the videos in May 2020. The Google account, which also had been accessed from Torres’ residence, contained over 100 videos of child sexual abuse, including videos whose content matched the videos distributed in May 2020. During the search of Torres’ residence, agents seized Torres’ cellular telephone, which had been used to access the same Google account. 

The count of distribution of child pornography carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and a fine of $250,000. The count of possession of child pornography carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, and a fine of $250,000. 

Acting U.S. Attorney Honig credited special agents of the FBI, Atlantic City Resident Agency, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge George M. Crouch Jr. in Newark, with the investigation leading to today’s charges. She also thanked the Cumberland County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Jennifer Webb-McRae, for its assistance in the investigation. 

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Bender of the Camden Office.

The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.