Burlington County Prosecutor Scott Coffina and Willingboro Township Public Safety Director Kinamo Lomon announced that a 38-year-old township man has been charged with possessing and distributing explicit images of minors.
According to a statement released by officials, Mr. Ernest Strother, of the first block of Granby Lane, was charged with four counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Minor (three are Second Degree, one is Third Degree).
Official say the investigation began earlier this year after the BCPO High-Tech Crimes Unit received information regarding Strother’s online activities from the United States Homeland Security Investigations – Cherry Hill Office.
According to police, the investigation revealed that Strother utilized a file-sharing network to download and then distribute images and videos of explicit images of minors.
Police took Strother into custody Wednesday morning following the execution of a search warrant at his residence. A preliminary review of personal electronic devices seized at that time by High-Tech Crimes Unit detectives revealed the presence of numerous explicit images of minors files.
The case will now be prepared for presentation to a Burlington County Grand Jury for possible indictment.
The investigation was conducted by the BCPO High-Tech Crimes Unit, with assistance from United States Homeland Security Investigations – Cherry Hill Office, the New Jersey State Police and the Willingboro Township Police Department.
The lead investigator is BCPO Detective Kevin Sobotka. The Prosecutor’s Office High-Tech Crimes Unit is a member of the New Jersey State Police Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force and the New Jersey State Police Cyber Terrorism Task Force.
All persons are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.