Source: Office of United States Attorneys
NEWARK, N.J. – A Passaic County, New Jersey, man today admitted transporting and possessing videos and images of child sexual abuse, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
Edward M. O’Hagan, 50, of Hawthorne, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Madeline Cox Arleo in Newark federal court one count of transportation of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Law enforcement officials learned that on Jan. 19, 2023, O’Hagan transmitted video files containing images of child sexual abuse through the internet. O’Hagan’s email addresses utilized an encrypted file storage platform to upload and create files containing images of child sexual abuse, which was accessed from an IP address at O’Hagan’s address. Subsequent to a lawful search of O’Hagan’s residence on May 22, 2023, law enforcement officers recovered hundreds of images and videos depicting child sexual abuse on O’Hagan’s electronic devices.
The count of transportation 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 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. Sentencing is scheduled for July 18, 2024.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited the Newark Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task force, under the direction of FBI Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea. He also thanked the Hawthorne Police Department and the Passaic County Sheriff’s Office.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Farhana C. Melo of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Division in Newark.