4 Somerset County residents sentenced for their roles in human trafficking, sexual assault and creation of pornography of 7-year-old child

SOMERVILLE, NJ (Somerset County) – Four Franklin Township residents were sentenced to a combined 67 years in prison stemming from their roles in the human trafficking and repeated sexual assault of one of their 7-year old children, according to Somerset County Acting Prosecutor Annmarie Taggart.

The criminal investigation into their conduct began in January 2019 when an anonymous caller contacted the New Jersey Division of Child Protection and Permanency (NJ DCP&P) Child Abuse Hotline and reported suspected abuse to a young child residing in the defendants’ Coburn Lane home in Franklin Township, Taggart said.

On the night that the anonymous call was made, NJ DCP&P personnel and Franklin Township Police Department officers responded to the defendants’ residence and began an investigation which ultimately resulted in the child being removed from the home, Taggart said.

The following day, detectives from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Unit interviewed the victim, and thereafter obtained and executed a search warrant upon their residence, Taggart said.

Evidence seized during the search warrant execution included more than 30 computers, cameras and digital storage device. The ensuing investigation revealed that Marina Volz, 32, aka Matthew Volz, Ashley Romero, 28, aka Adam Romero, and Sean Allen, 54, operated what they described as a “family-owned transgender pornography production studio specializing in amateur, BDSM and taboo fetish content” from the residence, Taggart said.

The investigation established that in December, 2018, Volz travelled to the west coast to assume custody of her biological 7-year old female child and bring the child back to New Jersey with the purpose of engaging in sexual activity with the child. Romero and Allen assisted her in bringing the child to New Jersey to be sexually assaulted and filmed, Taggart said.

Once in New Jersey, Romero and Allen jointly sexually assaulted the child and filmed the assault, the video of which was recovered from multiple electronic items within the home. The search of the electronic devices revealed multiple text messages and other electronic communications between Volz, Romero, Allen and third parties discussing the sexual assault of the child, Taggart said.

Dulcinea Gnecco, 21, also filmed the child, Taggart said.

Police recovered firearms, a high-capacity ammunition magazine, and cocaine from the residence, Taggart said.

On May 29, 2019, police arrested the four, and the state successfully moved for pretrial detention of the defendants in the Somerset County Jail, Taggart said.

On November 16, 2022, following extensive pretrial litigation, they all entered guilty pleas, Taggart said.

Volz pled guilty to first-degree human trafficking, first-degree conspiracy to commit human trafficking, first-degree aggravated sexual assault, second-degree conspiracy to commit aggravated sexual assault, first-degree endangering the welfare of a child by creating child pornography, second-degree conspiracy to endanger the welfare of a child by creating child pornography, second-degree endangering the welfare of a child by engaging in conduct that would impair or debauch the child, first-degree aggravated sexual assault, second-degree endangering the welfare of a child by engaging in conduct that would impair or debauch the child, and fourth-degree possession of a high capacity ammunition magazine.

During her guilty plea, Volz admitted that she brought her child to New Jersey with the purpose of engaging in sexual activity with her, and thereafter sexually assaulted her child both alone and jointly with Romero, and filmed the sexual assault.

Romero pled guilty to first-degree human trafficking, first-degree conspiracy to commit human trafficking, first-degree aggravated sexual assault, second-degree conspiracy to commit aggravated sexual assault, first-degree endangering the welfare of a child by creating child pornography, second-degree conspiracy to endanger the welfare of a child by creating child pornography, second-degree endangering the welfare of a child by engaging in conduct that would impair or debauch the child, first-degree endangering the welfare of a child by creating child pornography, and third-degree endangering the welfare of a child by possessing child pornography.

During her guilty plea, Romero admitted that she assisted defendant Volz in bringing Volz’s child to New Jersey with the purpose of engaging in sexual activity with the child, and thereafter sexually assaulted the child jointly with Volz and filmed the sexual assault.

Allen pled guilty to first-degree human trafficking, first-degree conspiracy to commit human trafficking, first-degree aggravated sexual assault, second-degree conspiracy to commit aggravated sexual assault, and first-degree endangering the welfare of a child by creating child pornography.

During his guilty plea, Allen admitted that he assisted Volz and Romero in bringing defendant Volz’s child to New Jersey to be sexually assaulted and filmed.

Gnecco pled guilty to second-degree endangering the welfare of a child, and third-degree endangering the welfare of a child.

During her guilty plea, Gnecco admitted that she filmed the child victim while the victim was partially naked.

On May 6, 2022, the Hon. Peter J. Tober, P.J.Cr., sentenced Volz to a twenty-five year period of incarceration in New Jersey State Prison with a twenty-five year period of parole ineligibility; Romero to a twenty-five year period of incarceration in New Jersey State Prison with a twenty-five year period of parole ineligibility; Allen to a twelve year period of incarceration in New Jersey State Prison with a ten year period of parole ineligibility, and Gnecco to a five year period of incarceration in New Jersey State Prison.

In addition, Volz, Romero and Allen will be required to register pursuant to Megan’s Law and be placed on parole supervision for life upon their release from prison.

Acting Prosecutor Taggart highlighted the significance of the anonymous call placed to the New Jersey Child Abuse hotline by a concerned citizen in this case, without which this investigation, and the rescue of the seven year-old child, would not have occurred.

Taggart said, “That not only are people who suspect child abuse encouraged to report it, but New Jersey law actually requires any person who has reasonable cause to believe that a child has been abused or neglected to report it to the NJ DCP&P. Calls may be made anonymously, 24 hours a day, by calling 1-877-NJ ABUSE (1-877-652-2873).”

New Jersey law further provides that individuals who report child abuse in good faith have immunity from criminal or civil liability resulting from such a report. Finally, any person who has reasonable cause to suspect child abuse or child sexual abuse and fails to report it may be charged with a disorderly persons offense or a fourth-degree crime, Taggart said.

Acting Prosecutor Taggart emphasizes that this case is an example of why people who suspect child abuse must report it, and commends the individual who did so in the present case for initiating the chain of events that ultimately saved this child victim.