WHARTON BOROUGH, NJ (Morris County) – A federal grand jury indicted a Morris County man for allegedly possessing and distributing images of child sexual abuse, according to U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger.
Anselmo Girimonte, 52, of Wharton is charged by indictment with one count of possession of child pornography and one count of distribution of child pornography. He will be arraigned at a date to be determined, Sellinger said.
Girimonte was arrested on a criminal complaint on March 4, 2022, and consented to detention, Sellinger said.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court, from Dec. 27, 2021, through Jan. 17, 2022, Girimonte distributed material containing images and video files of child sexual abuse, via a publicly available online peer-to-peer (P2P) file-sharing network of linked computers.
Law enforcement officers conducted undercover online sessions to access the P2P program and during these sessions a user shared multiple video files of pre-pubescent children being sexually abused by adults from an internet address traced to Girimonte’s residence.
On March 2, 2022, law enforcement officers lawfully obtained a cell phone from Girimonte’s residence that contained hundreds of images and videos of child pornography, including images of prepubescent children being sexually abused.
The count of possession of child pornography carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and a fine of $250,000. The count of distribution of child pornography carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and a fine of $250,000.
