Burlington County Prosecutor Scott Coffina and Willingboro Township Public Safety Director Kinamo Lomon announced that a 38-year-old township man has been charged with possessing and distributing child pornography.
Ernest Strother, of the first block of Granby Lane, was charged with four counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child (three are Second Degree, one is Third Degree).
The investigation began earlier this year after the BCPO High-Tech Crimes Unit received information regarding Strother’s online activities from United States Homeland Security Investigations – Cherry Hill Office.
The investigation revealed that Strother utilized a file sharing network to download and then distribute images and videos of child pornography.
He was taken into custody yesterday morning following the execution of a search warrant at his residence. A preliminary review of personal electronic devices seized at that time by High-Tech Crimes Unit detectives revealed the presence of numerous child pornography files.
The case will now be prepared for presentation to a Burlington County Grand Jury for possible indictment.
The investigation was conducted by the BCPO High-Tech Crimes Unit, with assistance from United States Homeland Security Investigations – Cherry Hill Office, the New Jersey State Police and the Willingboro Township Police Department.
The lead investigator is BCPO Detective Kevin Sobotka. The Prosecutor’s Office High-Tech Crimes Unit is a member of the New Jersey State Police Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force and the New Jersey State Police Cyber Terrorism Task Force.
All persons are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.