Morris County Man Charged With Distributing Child Porn

NEWARK, NJ — A Wharton, New Jersey man faces federal charges after he allegedly distributed videos and images of child sexual abuse online, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger has announced.

Anselmo Girimonte, 51, of Morris County, is charged by complaint with one count of distribution of child pornography. He appeared by videoconference on Friday before U.S. Magistrate Judge James B. Clark III and was detained, officials said.

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.

From Dec. 27, 2021, through Jan. 17, 2022, Girimonte allegedly 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, according to documents filed in the case and statements made in court.

The U.S. Attorney's Office explained 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 his or her 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 said they conducted an undercover online session to access the P2P program and to download nine video files containing child pornography from an IP address assigned to an internet service provider account associated with Girimonte's residence. These files included multiple visual depictions of prepubescent children being sexually abused by adults, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Sellinger 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. He also thanked the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office, the Rockaway Township Police Department, and the United States Postal Inspection Service for their assistance with the investigation.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Camila A. Garces 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.

Defense counsel was K. Anthony Thomas Esq., Assistant Federal Public Defender, Newark

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