TRENTON – A Toms River man admitted to distributing child pornography, allegedly of his daughter, over a social media app, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
David Nelson, 44, pleaded guilty today to the charges in federal court.
According to an investigation performed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Louisville, Ky office, Nelson offered to transmit files to an undercover officer over the Kik Messenger app. He offered to broadcast pictures of his daughter to the officer. It is unclear if the victim is actually related to Nelson.
He was arrested on April 9 for transmitting at least 26 images of child pornography between Oct. 24 and Oct. 26 of 2017, while using the Kik name “candicesloan1995.” He also admitted that he was an administrator of multiple Kik chat rooms that focused on the discussion and sharing of child pornography.
He is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 19. The distribution charge carries a minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Many agencies were named in helping with the investigation, including the Toms River Police Department, and Chief Mitch Little. Also involved were special agents of the Franklin Township Resident Agency, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Gregory Ehrie in Newark, FBI special agents under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Amy S. Hess in Louisville, and FBI special agents under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Timothy Slater in Detroit.
