A Gloucester County man was charged today with producing and distributing explicit images of minors, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Officials say Andrew Nicholas, 22, of Williamstown, is charged by criminal complaint one count of sexually exploiting minors and one count of distributing explicit images of minors. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Joel Schneider in Camden federal court and was detained without bail.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: On Feb. 26, 2019, an undercover officer entered a public Kik Messenger group and began communicating with Nicholas, who sent the officer explicit images involving a prepubescent minor.
The count of sexually exploiting minors carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison, a maximum potential penalty of 30 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The distribution of explicit images of minors count carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum possible penalty of 20 years in prison and fine of $250,000 per count.
The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.