Union County Man Gets 20 Years In Prison For Distributing Child Porn

CRANFORD, NJ — A Cranford man was sentenced to 250 months in prison for distributing images and videos depicting child sexual abuse, as well as soliciting two children to engage in sexually explicit conduct online, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced Tuesday.

In addition to the prison term, Christopher Gardiner, 39, was sentenced to five years of supervised release and must register as a sex offender. U.S. District Judge Kevin McNulty imposed the sentence in Newark federal court on Tuesday.

Gardiner previously pleaded guilty to one count of distributing child pornography and two counts of online enticement of a minor to engage in criminal sexual conduct.

From March 2018 to June 2018, Gardiner engaged in an ongoing sexually graphic conversation with an undercover agent on a web-based social media application, according to documents filed and statements made in court.

During the course of the conversation, Gardiner publicly posted multiple videos depicting the sexual abuse of children in a chatroom and sent similar videos to the undercover agent directly.

Law enforcement then discovered numerous images and videos of child sexual abuse on Gardiner’s electronic devices when he was arrested at his home in August of 2018. Gardiner was also previously convicted of endangering the welfare of a child and distribution of child pornography in Union County in 2007.

U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents with the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge George M. Crouch Jr., with the investigation leading to Tuesday's sentencing.

He also thanked the Cranford Police Department, under the direction of Chief Ryan Greco, for its assistance in the case.

Have a news tip? Email remy.samuels@patch.com.

Get a free morning newsletter with news in Cranford or another town: https://patch.com/subscribe