By: Richard L. Smith
A Lakewood man has been sentenced to 30 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to charges related to the sexual exploitation of a minor, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced Tuesday.
Samuel Schwinger, 38, faced the sentencing in Trenton federal court by U.S. District Court Judge Georgette Castner, marking a significant outcome in the fight against child exploitation.
The charges stem from Schwinger's admission of using an internet-based application to coerce a child under the age of 12 into producing explicit videos and sending them to him.
The criminal activities took place from October 2018 through April 5, 2019, during which Schwinger communicated with more than 25 minor victims for the purpose of producing and distributing explicit material of a minor.
In a move to protect the community and prevent further crimes, Judge Castner also sentenced Schwinger to 10 years of supervised release following his imprisonment.
Additionally, he is required to register as a sexual offender upon his release, a measure aimed at monitoring and mitigating any future risk he may pose to minors.
This sentencing underscores the serious nature of crimes involving the exploitation of children and the concerted efforts of federal authorities to prosecute individuals who engage in such reprehensible conduct.
The case also highlights the importance of vigilant internet monitoring and parental oversight to protect children from online predators.