Somerset County man charged with child sexual abuse material distribution, drug possession

RARITAN BOROUGH, N.J. (Somerset County) — A Raritan Borough man has been arrested and charged with multiple offenses related to the possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material, Somerset County Prosecutor John P. McDonald announced Friday.

Joseph Vega Ramirez, 23, was identified as a suspect following a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The Cyber Tipline report indicated several files depicting the sexual abuse and exploitation of a minor had been uploaded via a messaging application, authorities said.

Detectives from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigations Unit launched an investigation that led to Vega Ramirez’s identification.

On Tuesday, May 13, detectives from the prosecutor’s office, Raritan Borough Police Department, and the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office executed a Superior Court-authorized search warrant at Vega Ramirez’s residence in Raritan. During the search, electronic devices were seized for forensic analysis. Authorities also discovered approximately 34 grams of suspected psilocybin mushrooms and 35 suspected Ecstasy (MDMA) pills at the residence.

Vega Ramirez was arrested at the scene without incident and transported to the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office. He was charged with second-degree distribution of child sexual abuse materials, third-degree possession of child sexual abuse materials, and two counts of third-degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance (psilocybin mushrooms and MDMA).

He was lodged in the Somerset County Jail pending a court hearing.