By: Richard L. Smith
Federal authorities announced the arrest of a Middlesex County man accused of sending obscene material to a minor under the age of 16.
According to Acting U.S. Attorney and Special Attorney Alina Habba, 21-year-old Mahir Chaudhry, of Piscataway, was taken into custody on August 27, 2025.
He is charged by complaint with one count of transferring obscene material to a minor.
Chaudhry made his initial appearance the following day before U.S. Magistrate Judge André M. Espinosa in Newark federal court and was detained pending approval of bail conditions.
Court documents allege that between March 2023 and May 2023, Chaudhry knowingly sent at least six obscene images to a minor via text message.
Officials said he was aware at the time that the victim was younger than 16 years old.
If convicted, Chaudhry faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
“This defendant’s arrest is a testament to the combined work of the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners to protect the people of New Jersey from individuals who prey on minor victims, no matter where the victims are located,” Acting U.S. Attorney Habba said in a statement.
The case remains under investigation.