Crime & Safety
Jersey City Man Sent Child Porn Through Instagram: Officials
The man sent about 100 images of child sex abuse over Instagram's direct messages, according to the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office.
JERSEY CITY, NJ — A Jersey City man who is a registered sex offender, was arrested on Friday and charged with the possession and distribution of Child Sex Abuse Material. The man sent about 100 images of child sex abuse over Instagram's direct messages, according to the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office.
Thomas Gaughran, 48, was arrested on Tonnelle Avenue in Jersey City on Friday.
He was already listed as a registered sex offender when investigators found the explicit Instagram messages, officials said. The Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force received a tip from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children reporting suspected child sex abuse material being distributed through the internet. The investigation led to Gaughran's arrest.
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He was charged with Endangering the Welfare of Children by Distributing Child Sex Abuse Material.
After he was arrested, Gaughran was taken to Hoboken Medical Center after he requested medical attention. He was cleared for incarceration, and taken to the Hudson County Correctional Facility in Kearny pending his first appearance.
Find out what's happening in Jersey Cityfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
A hearing is scheduled for Wednesday.
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