A Bergen County, man was sentenced today to 60 months in prison for distributing images of child abuse, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Police say Barry Goldstein, 46, of Bergenfield, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Madeline Cox Arleo to an information charging him with one count of distribution of images of child sexual abuse. Judge Arleo imposed the sentence today in Newark federal court.
**According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:**
From May 2018 through August 2018, an undercover law enforcement officer (the “UC”) communicated over an instant messaging mobile application (the “IM App”) with Goldstein. The IM App allows users to transmit and receive content after users register a username.
Goldstein maintained an account on the IM App, which was accessed from Internet Protocol addresses associated with Goldstein’s home.
In May and June 2018, after engaging in explicit conversations with the UC regarding the sexual abuse of children, Goldstein used his account on the IM App to share with the UC multiple files depicting child sexual abuse. On Aug. 29, 2018, law enforcement officers searched Goldstein’s residence, interviewed Goldstein and arrested him.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Arleo sentenced Goldstein to 15 years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Brian Michael, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencing.