A Bayonne man was busted with over 600 images that depict child sexual abuse, leading to child pornography charges, U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger announced.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
Brandon Tyler Mooney, 26, of Bayonne, is charged by complaint with one count of possession and one count of distribution of child pornography.
Mooney was arrested yesterday and made his initial appearance today before U.S. District Judge José R. Almonte in Newark federal court, and was detained.
From as early as June 2023, Mooney exchanged child pornography with another individual by way of a cloud-based instant messaging platform, court documents allege.
On December 19th, 2023, Mooney sent multiple images and videos, including content that appears to involve sexual images of children under the age of 12, to an undercover law enforcement official.
Law enforcement officials found in Mooney’s possession over 600 images that appear to depict child sexual abuse.
The charge of possession of child pornography carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The charge 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 $250,000 fine.
Sellinger credited the Newark Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task force, under the direction of FBI Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark, the Bayonne Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police Robert Geisler, and the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Esther Suarez, with the investigation leading to the charges.
