Morris County man sentenced to 17 years in prison for creating female, male personas to induce dozens of minors to send sexually explicit pictures. videos
MORRISTOWN, NJ (Morris County) – A Morris County man who was employed by a New Jersey elementary school and helped run a youth soccer club was sentenced today to 204 months in prison for producing and possessing child pornography, according to U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger.
Steven Brooks, 37, of Morristown previously pleaded guilty before former U.S. District Judge John Michael Vazquez to one count of production of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography, Sellinger said.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court, in January 2021, law enforcement officers were notified about possible child pornography on an external hard drive belonging to Brooks. Pursuant to judicially authorized search warrants, law enforcement officers searched Brooks’ external hard drive, electronic devices and social media accounts. Brooks utilized fake online personas on social media platforms to solicit photos and videos from dozens of minors that depicted the minors engaging in sexual activity. Brooks acknowledged, as relevant conduct, the attempted online enticement, production and possession of child pornography involving at least 79 victims.
In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge Brian Martinotti sentenced Brooks to 10 years of supervised release and ordered restitution of $237,000.
