TRENTON, N.J. - A Bergen County, N.J., man admitted today that he downloaded images and videos depicting child sexual abuse on a computer at his parents’ house, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.
Joshua Babilonia, 24, of Fair Lawn, N.J., pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Joel A. Pisano in Trenton federal court to an information charging him with one count of receiving images of child sex abuse over the Internet.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Special agents of the U.S. Department of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations (ICE HSI) executed a search warrant on Sept. 13, 2012, at the Fair Lawn residence of Babilonia’s parents. Agents seized digital evidence that contained more than 600 images and a large number of videos depicting child sexual abuse, including material that involved prepubescent minors and portrayed sadistic or masochistic conduct. The evidence seized included three files previously downloaded from Babilonia by law enforcement agents working in an undercover capacity on a peer-to-peer network.
During today’s guilty plea proceeding, Babilonia admitted he was a member of the online network between January 2011 and September 2012, and searched for and downloaded images of child sexual abuse. He also admitted that his files were viewable and downloadable by others on the network.
Babilonia faces a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, and a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is currently scheduled for Oct. 15, 2014. Babilonia will also be required to register as a sex offender.
U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of ICE HSI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Andrew M. McLees in Newark, with the investigation.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Danielle M. Corcione of the U.S. Attorney's Office General Crimes Unit in Newark.
14-234
Defense counsel: Adolph Galluccio Esq., Totowa, N.J.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
