NEWARK, N.J. – A Bergen County, New Jersey, man was arrested and charged today with distributing images of child sexual abuse, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.

Jeffrey Laino, 37, of Washington Township, New Jersey, was arrested at his home. He is charged by complaint with one count of distributing child pornography. Laino made his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Cathy L. Waldor today in Newark federal court.

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

In January 2019, an undercover law enforcement officer conducted an online session using a publicly available peer-to-peer (P2P) program, which allows internet users to trade digital files. During this session, a user shared multiple files of featuring images of child sexual abuse from an internet address traced to Laino’s residence.

In February 2019, law enforcement officers received information from a victim living in Ohio who was approached on the social media application Snapchat by an individual using a screen name that included “Jeff L.” In chats with the Ohio victim, “Jeff L.” stated that he was from New Jersey and had obtained nude pictures of the Ohio victim – taken when she was 14 to 15 years of age – by downloading them from the Internet. The IP address of “Jeff L.” Snapchat user was assigned, at the approximate times the chats took place, to an account located at Laino’s residence.

The count of distributing child pornography carries a mandatory minimum sentence 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 of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Brian Michael, with the investigation leading to today’s arrest.

The government is represented by Executive Assistant U.S. Attorney Zach Intrater of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Newark.

The charge and allegations in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.