Somerset County Man Charged with Distribution of Child Pornography

NEWARK, N.J. – A Somerset County, New Jersey, man was charged today with allegedly distributing videos and images of child sexual abuse, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig announced.

Marcevan Manasse, 27, Somerville, New Jersey, is charged by complaint with one count of distribution of child pornography. He appeared by videoconference today before U.S. Magistrate Judge André M. Espinosa and was released on $100,000 unsecured bond.

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

From Sept. 20, 2020, through Nov. 22, 2020, Manasse distributed material containing images and video files of child sexual abuse, via a publicly available online peer-to-peer (P2P) file-sharing network of linked computers. Users must download the P2P program, which is widely available for free on the internet. The program allows the user to place files into a designated “shared” folder on a hard drive, from which other P2P program users can then download those files directly to the “shared” folders of their own computers. Users can then browse, search, select, and directly download, those files. The program typically keeps a log of each downloaded event.

Law enforcement officials conducted an undercover online session to access the P2P program and to download five video files and 11 images containing child sexual abuse from an IP address assigned to an internet service provider account associated with Manasse’s residence. These files included multiple visual depictions of pre-pubescent children being sexually abused by adults.

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.

Acting U.S. Attorney Honig credited special agents of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, New Jersey Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jason J. Molina, with the investigation leading to today’s charges. She also thanked the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office for its assistance with the investigation.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Dong Joo Lee of the Violent Crimes Unit in Newark.

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