An enlisted member of the United States Air Force has pleaded guilty to receiving child pornography while stationed at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey, according to an announcement by Senior Counsel Philip Lamparello.
Christian Keilberg, 34, from Ocean County, entered his plea before U.S. District Court Judge Georgette Castner in Trenton federal court. Sentencing is set for June 18, 2026.
Court documents and statements indicate that between November 2020 and November 2022, Keilberg used online chat applications and social media to communicate with minors both within and outside New Jersey. He exchanged sexually explicit messages with these minors and requested they send him images and videos depicting sexually explicit conduct. Investigators found additional child pornography on Keilberg’s electronic devices during a search of his on-base residence. Authorities determined he received more than 600 images involving minors aged twelve to fifteen.
The charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and could result in up to twenty years’ imprisonment as well as a $250,000 fine.
Senior Counsel Lamparello credited the investigation to special agents from the United States Department of the Air Force Office of Special Investigations under Special Agent in Charge Rebecca B. Bates, along with assistance from the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office.
“This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) in the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit: https://www.justice.gov/pscLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link,” according to officials.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracey Agnew is representing the government in this matter.
