By: Najla Alexander
Authorities in Mercer County announced that an investigation into online child exploitation has resulted in the arrest of two Trenton men and the seizure of cocaine, a 9mm handgun, and $10,480 in cash.
Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo J. Onofri said on November 2023, detectives with the prosecutor’s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Unit received information from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that an individual in Mercer County was uploading items that portrayed the explicit exploitation or abuse of a minor.
An investigation was initiated, and Marcus Roberts was identified as a subject, officials stated.
According to officials, on Friday, February 16, the Mercer County Tactical Response Team, with assistance from the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations Trenton, executed a search warrant at Roberts’ Trenton residence, where detectives seized multiple items of evidentiary value.
Roberts, 32, was taken into custody without incident, officials say, and he is charged with one count of third-degree possession of explicit images of minors.
Authorities say the prosecutor’s office has filed a motion to detain Roberts pending trial.
During the search warrant execution, detectives also located approximately 55 grams of cocaine, a loaded, 9mm semi-automatic handgun, a digital scale, and $10,480 in cash in a bedroom belonging to Jared Roberts, Marcus’ brother, officials said.
Officials stated that Jared Roberts, 36, was also taken into custody and charged with drug and weapons offenses.
The Prosecutor’s Office has also filed a motion to detain Jared Roberts pending trial.