CAMDEN, N.J. – A Gloucester County, man was charged today with allegedly distributing videos and images of child sexual abuse, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Federal officials say, Mr. Matthew Alongi, 30, of Thorofare is charged by complaint with one count of distribution of explicit child images of minors. He appeared today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Karen M. Williams in Camden federal court.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
In November 2018, undercover law enforcement officials participated in an online chat group on a social networking application that allows internet users to trade digital files. During multiple sessions, a user shared multiple files featuring images of sexual abuse from an internet address traced to Alongi’s residence.
Officials say on May 8, law enforcement lawfully obtained from Alongi’s residence multiple devices that contained hundreds of images and videos of explicit images of minors, including images of prepubescent minors being sexually abused.
The count of distribution of explicit images of minors carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and a fine of $250,000.
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of Homeland Security Investigations, Cherry Hill Office, under the direction of Resident Agent in Charge Jeff Kocher; the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Acting Prosecutor Jill S. Mayer; the Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Charles A. Fiore; the West Deptford Police Department, under the direction of Chief Sean McKenna; and the N.J. State Police, under the direction of Col Patrick J. Callahan, with the investigation leading to today’s charge.