By: Richard L. Smith
A Bergen County man will spend 20 years in federal prison after admitting to receiving and possessing sexually explicit images of a minor in a case that also involved the sexual assault of a young victim visiting New Jersey from another country.
According to a statement released by U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer, Corey Hipscher, 55, of Lodi, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge William J. Martini in Newark federal court.
Federal authorities said Hipscher communicated with a minor living outside the United States through a social media platform between 2020 and August 2023.
During those conversations, investigators said Hipscher persuaded the minor to send him sexually explicit photographs and videos.
Court documents revealed that Hipscher also developed an online romantic relationship with the victim's mother, which he used to arrange a trip for the family to visit him in New Jersey.
During that visit, authorities said Hipscher sexually assaulted the minor and photographed both the victim and the victim's sibling in sexually explicit situations.
Hipscher previously pleaded guilty to federal charges involving the receipt and possession of sexually explicit images of minors.
In addition to his 20-year prison sentence, Hipscher will be required to serve 15 years of supervised release following his incarceration.
U.S. Attorney Frazer credited the FBI Newark Division's Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy, for its investigative work.
Federal officials also acknowledged the assistance of the Lodi Police Department in the investigation.