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.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
