Authorities in Burlington County reported that a 19-year-old Browns Mills man has been charged with possessing and distributing underage/minor sexual abuse material.
Officials said Mr. Dawson Simons, of the 300 block of Seminole Trail, was charged with three counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child (two Second Degree and one Third Degree).
He was lodged in the Burlington County Jail in Mount Holly pending an appearance in Superior Court.
The case will be prepared for presentation to a grand jury for possible indictment.
Police took Simons into custody Friday morning at his residence following the execution of a search warrant.
Electronic devices seized during the search will be examined by detectives from the BCPO High-Tech Crimes Unit.
The investigation began in September after the BCPO High-Tech Crimes Unit received information regarding Simons’s online activities from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
Officials said the investigation revealed that Simons used social media and an online file storage system to collect and distribute underage sexual abuse material.
The investigation was conducted by the BCPO High-Tech Crimes Unit, with assistance from the United States Homeland Security Investigations – Cherry Hill Office, the Pemberton Township Police Department and the Evesham Township Police (NJ) Department.
The lead investigator was BCPO Detective Andrew Ridolfi.
The BCPO High-Tech Crimes Unit and HSI – Cherry Hill are members of the New Jersey State Police Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force.
The BCPO also belongs to the New Jersey State Police Cyber Terrorism Task Force.
All persons are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.