By: Richard L. Smith
In a significant legal development, a Somerset County man, John Schulenburg, 68, of Basking Ridge, has been sentenced to 120 months in prison for the possession of multiple images and videos containing explicit photos of minors.
The sentencing was announced by U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger and was handed down by U.S. District Judge Brian R. Martinotti in Newark federal court.
Schulenburg had previously entered a guilty plea via videoconference before U.S. District Judge John Michael Vazquez.
His conviction stems from a superseding information charge related to possessing explicit images of minors. Federal officials said Schulenburg was previously convicted of endangering the welfare of a child for similar offenses in Somerset County in 2013.
The investigation into Schulenburg's activities was detailed in court documents and statements.
In July 2019, an undercover law enforcement officer, using a peer-to-peer program that allows the trading of digital files, encountered a user who shared multiple files from an internet address linked to Schulenburg's residence.
These files contained explicit images of minors, including prepubescent children.
Following this, on November 6, 2019, law enforcement officials lawfully seized a computer from Schulenburg's home, which was found to contain hundreds of such images and videos.
In addition to his prison term, Judge Martinotti sentenced Schulenburg to five years of supervised release and ordered him to pay $58,000 in restitution.
This case highlights the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to combat the possession and distribution of explicit images of minors.