Burlington County Prosecutor Scott Coffina and Willingboro Township Public Safety Director Gregory Rucker announced today that a 19-year-old township man has been charged with manufacturing and distributing child pornography.
Nathanial T. Coles, 19, of Norwood Lane, was charged with Manufacturing Child Pornography, Possession of Child Pornography, Distribution of Child Pornography, Possession of Child Pornography with Intent to Distribute, and Leader of a Child Pornography Network.
The investigation began late last year after the BCPO High-Tech Crimes Unit received information regarding Coles’ online activity from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
The investigation revealed that Coles would contact potential victims online using a female persona and ask them to provide him with nude photos and videos of themselves. He would then make those files available online for others to access.
Coles was taken into custody on February 22 following the execution of a search warrant at his residence, during which multiple electronic devices were seized. A preliminary review of the devices by High-Tech Crimes Unit detectives revealed multiple child pornography files.
The case will now be prepared for presentation to a Burlington County Grand Jury for possible indictment. Coles has been detained in the Burlington County Jail since his arrest.
The investigation was conducted by the BCPO High-Tech Crimes Unit, with assistance from the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations – Cherry Hill Office, and the Willingboro Township Police Department.
The lead investigator is BCPO Detective Jennifer Applemann. 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.