A Union City man has been charged with possessing over 1,000 images of child sex abuse material on his cell phone, Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez announced.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
Erik Umana, 39, of Union City, is charged with one count of endangering the welfare of a child (possession of child sexual abuse material), a second-degree crime, Suarez said in a statement.
He was arrested on Monday at the Essex County Correctional Facility where he was being detained on a separate matter.
Members of the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit and Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force made the arrest.
In April 2025, the HCPO Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force received a referral that the defendant was storing child sexual abuse material on a cellular device.
A court authorized data search of the device recovered over 1,000 images of child sexual abuse material, authorities said.
This case highlights the critical role of specialized law enforcement units in safeguarding vulnerable populations, particularly children, from digital exploitation. The proactive response of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force demonstrates how inter-agency collaboration and early detection mechanisms are essential in addressing cyber-enabled crimes effectively.