Hudson County authorities announced that on Friday, July 16, at approximately 9:35 a.m., members of the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit and the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force arrested Thomas Gaughran, 48, of Jersey City, on charges involving the possession and distribution of Explicit Images of Minors.
Prosecutor Suarez said that Gaughran was arrested without incident on Tonnelle Avenue in Jersey City.
According to Prosecutor Suarez, on March 11, the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force received a tip from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children reporting suspected explicit images of minors being distributed through the internet.
Following an investigation, it was determined that Gaughran, a registered sex offender, had distributed approximately 100 explicit images of minors through Instagram Direct Messenger.
According to Prosecutor Suarez, Gaughran has been charged with Endangering the Welfare of Children by Distributing Explicit Images of Minors and Endangering the Welfare of Children by Possessing Explicit Images of Minors.
Following his arrest, Gaughran was transported to Hoboken Medical Center after he requested medical attention. After being medically cleared for incarceration, he was transported to the Hudson County Correctional Facility in Kearny pending his first appearance.
The Prosecutor’s Office has filed a motion for pretrial detention of the defendant. A hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, July 21.