NEWARK, N.J. - A Lodi, N.J., man was sentenced today in Newark federal court to 292 months in prison for amassing and sharing an extensive photo and video collection of children being sexually abused, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.
Martin Villalobos, 41, of Lodi, N.J., previously was convicted by a federal jury on all counts of the superseding indictment on which he was tried: two counts of distribution of child pornography, two counts of receipt of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Stanley R. Chesler, who also presided over the trial. Villalobos has been in federal custody since his arrest.
According to documents filed in the case, evidence presented and statements made in court:
As part of an undercover investigation, special agents of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations (ICE HSI), discovered an individual who was sharing images of child sexual abuse over the Internet. Agents used the IP address of Villalobos’ computer to identify him.
After obtaining a court-ordered search warrant, agents found Villalobos in a locked bedroom with eight computer hard drives, more than 100 DVDs and other electronic media. A forensic analysis of the materials found revealed that he was in possession of 5,442 photographs and 164 videos of children, including prepubescent minors, nude and engaged in sexual acts with one another and with adults. The evidence at trial also proved that Villalobos routinely used the Internet to solicit, receive and distribute such images.
In sentencing Villalobos, Judge Chesler took into account his previous abuse of an unconscious woman with mental disabilities. During sentencing arguments, the government noted that footage of that abuse, which Villalobos recorded, was found in his home, along with writings describing the stalking and abduction of women to subject them to sexual torture; “crush videos," depicting the killing of animals, such as rabbits and chicks; and multiple videos of bestiality.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Chesler sentenced Villalobos to serve five years of supervised release and ordered him to pay $16,000 in restitution to victims who submitted claims. Villalobos will be required to register as a sex offender.
U.S. Attorney Fishman praised special agents of ICE HSI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Andrew M. McLees in Newark, for the investigation.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph B. Shumofsky and Nicholas P. Grippo of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Newark.
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Defense counsel: pro se
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
