NEWARK, N.J. – A Passaic County, New Jersey, man has been indicted on charges of distributing, receiving, and possessing images of child sexual abuse, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced today.

Vaughn Tiedeman, 46, of West Milford, New Jersey, is charged by indictment, returned by a federal grand jury on Dec. 4, 2019, with one count of distributing child pornography, one count of receiving child pornography, and one count of possessing child pornography. Tiedeman was initially charged by complaint in April 2019.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

Between July 2018 and January 2019, Tiedeman used the BitTorrent peer-to-peer file-sharing network to distribute more than 50 video files and 100 image files containing images of child sexual abuse. On April 1, 2019, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Tiedeman’s home and found approximately 6,800 unique still images and 120 unique videos containing images of child sexual abuse.

The distribution and receipt charges each carry a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The charge of possession of child pornography carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Brian Michael, with the investigation leading to the charges.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah A. Sulkowski of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Cybercrime Unit in Newark.

The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Defense counsel: Michael A. Orozco Esq., Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey

NEWARK, N.J. – A Passaic County, New Jersey, man appeared in Newark federal court today on a charge of distributing images of child sexual abuse, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.

Vaughn Tiedeman, 46, of West Milford, New Jersey, is charged by complaint with one count of distributing child pornography. He made his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Cathy L. Waldor in Newark federal court and was remanded without bail.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

Between July 2018 and January 2019, Tiedeman distributed at least 50 videos and 100 images depicting the sexual abuse of children via the BitTorrent peer-to-peer network.

The charge of distribution of child pornography carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison, and a $250,000 fine.

U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents with the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Newark Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Brian A. Michael, with the investigation leading to the charges. He also thanked the West Milford Police Department, the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service for their assistance in the investigation.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah A. Sulkowski of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Public Protection 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.