A Jersey City resident, Matthew Ozol, 39, has been charged with one count of possession of child pornography. Acting U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced the charge on Thursday.
Ozol appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge James B. Clark, III in Newark federal court for his initial hearing and was detained.
According to information presented in court and documents filed in the case, law enforcement examined messages sent through a messaging application from an account linked to an IP address registered to Ozol’s residence. The account participated in a chat group called “Baby Rapist,” where it sent communications expressing interest in raping babies and exchanging child pornography. Authorities said the account also distributed a video containing child pornography.
A search warrant executed at Ozol’s home resulted in the recovery of at least 26 images and videos depicting infants or toddlers engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
The charge carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
“Acting U.S. Attorney Habba credited special agents of Homeland Security Investigations Newark, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael McCarthy, with the investigation leading to the charge.”
The case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a Department of Justice initiative launched in May 2006 that coordinates efforts among federal, state, and local agencies to address child sexual exploitation and abuse. The program aims to locate, apprehend, and prosecute offenders while identifying and rescuing victims. More information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at https://www.justice.gov/psc.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Specht from the Special Prosecutions Division.
Robert Ebberup of Toms River is representing Ozol as defense counsel.
