Bergen County Man Admits Distribution and Possession of Child Pornography

NEWARK, N.J. - A Bergen County, New Jersey, man admitted distributing and possessing images of child sexual abuse, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today.

Michael Kimmerle, 35, of New Milford, New Jersey pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Claire C. Cecchi in Newark federal court on Nov. 6, 2024, to an information charging him with one count of distribution of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

From Aug. 24, 2021, through Aug. 7, 2022, Kimmerle distributed material containing video files of child sexual abuse, via a publicly available online peer-to-peer (P2P) file-sharing program. Law enforcement used undercover online sessions to access the P2P program. During these sessions a user shared multiple video files of child sexual abuse from an Internet Protocol address traced to Kimmerle's residence. During a Sept. 14, 2022 search of Kimmerle's residence, law enforcement found over 600 thumbnail images containing child pornography on Kimmerle's laptop, including images derived from video files Kimmerle previously distributed through the P2P file-sharing program.

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. The count of possession of child pornography carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and a fine of $250,000. Sentencing is scheduled for March 11, 2024.

U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of Homeland Security Investigations Newark, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Spiros Karabinas, with the investigation leading to today's guilty plea.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Chelsea D. Coleman of the Opioid Abuse Prevention and Enforcement Unit in Newark.