Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez released the following information:
Police arrested two residents of Union City on Tuesday and charged them with being involved in explicit images of minors after search warrants authorized by a Superior Court judge were executed at two locations in the city.
The arrests were the result of a three month investigation named ‘Operation Safe Holiday’ by the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit.
Police said the two locations are not related.
Authorities said at approximately 7:20 a.m., Erik W. Umana, age 30, of Union City, was arrested by members of the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit, Union City Police Department and the New Jersey Internet-Crimes-Against-Children Task Force. Detectives discovered more than 15,000 images and videos of explicit images of minors.
Umana has been charged with Distribution of explicit images of minors and Possession of explicit images of minors in violation of N.J.S. 2C:24-4.
Authorities said at approximately 9:40 a.m., Francisco Brando, age 50, of Union City, was arrested by members of the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victim’s Unit, Union City Police Department and the New Jersey Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Detectives discovered he was sharing images and videos of explicit images of minors. Brando has been charged with Distribution of explicit images of minors and Possession of explicit images of minors in violation of N.J.S. 2C:24-4.
The above charges are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.