East Windsor Man Among 15 Arrested In Child Porn Bust

EAST WINDSOR, NJ – An East Windsor man was among 15 people from New Jersey arrested after a monthslong operation targeting individuals seeking and trafficking child sexual abuse materials, according to the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office.

Jamie Khan, 43, of 19 Oxford Drive, East Windsor, was charged on Oct. 15 following an investigation that revealed he was viewing and sending child sexual abuse material while working for his employer in Freehold Township, prosecutors said. The investigation further revealed that he was also in possession of child sexual abuse material at his home in East Windsor.

Khan was charged with one count of third degree endangering the welfare of a child (possession of child sexual abuse material) and one count of second degree endangering the welfare of a child (distribution of child sexual abuse material).

Khan was released on the condition of no internet usage and no unsupervised contact with anyone under 18.

Between July 21 and Oct. 15, 2020, the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office Computer Crimes Unit and Monmouth County Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force arrested the individuals.

The arrests were designed to reduce online threats to Monmouth County to decrease the market for child sexual exploitation by focusing on those individuals seeking out and trafficking in child pornographic-materials, the prosecutor's office said in a news release.

Members of the New Jersey State Police Digital Technology Investigations Unit (DTIU), the New Jersey ICAC Task Force, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Monmouth County Sheriff's Office and The Monmouth County Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force supported the effort.

The following individuals were arrested in the operation:

• Michael Townend, 19, of 203 Colts Neck Road, was arrested on August 25 following an investigation that revealed he possessed images of child sexual abuse materials. Townend was charged with one count of third degree endangering the welfare of a child (possession of child sexual abuse materials).
• Thomas Villanova, 49, of 133 Newbury Road, was charged on Oct. 13 following a discovery that he possessed images of child sexual abuse material. Vilanova was charged with one count of third degree endangering the welfare of a child (possession of child sexual abuse material). Vilanova is currently on probation for a 2017 conviction for third degree endangering the welfare of a child, also for possession of child sexual abuse material. Vilanova is scheduled to appear in court before the Honorable Paul X. Escandon, J.S.C. for a detention hearing on Oct.22.
• Antonio Mejia, 38, of 806 5th Avenue, Asbury Park. Mejia was arrested on July 21 following an investigation that revealed he transmitted numerous images of child sexual abuse materials and engaged in sexual conversations with three males under the age of 16. Mejia was charged with one count second degree endangering the welfare of a child (distribution of child sexual abuse materials), one count of attempted endangering the welfare of a child (manufacturing an image of child exploitation material), one count of endangering the welfare of a child (possession of child sexual abuse materials), three counts of endangering the welfare of a child and three counts of attempted obscenity to minors. On July 30, he appeared for a detention hearing before the Honorable Paul X. Escandon, J.S.C. and was released on the condition that he have no contact with the victims, no access to social media and no contact with anyone under 18.
• Brody Sullivan, 20, of 2 Ithaca Court, Aberdeen was arrested on July 22 following an investigation that revealed that he was in possession of child sexual abuse materials. Sullivan was charged with one count of second degree endangering the welfare of a child (possession of child sexual abuse material), and released on the condition that he have no contact with anyone under 18 and no internet access.
• Anthony Lichtenau, 36, of 72 Brentwood Road, Eatontown was arrested on July 24 following an investigation that revealed he was in possession of child sexual abuse materials. Lichtenau was charged with one count of third degree endangering the welfare of a child (possession of child sexual abuse material) and was released on the condition that he have no contact with anyone under 18 and no internet access.
• Robert Sherman, 62, of 112 Route 36, Highlands, was arrested on Sept. 1 following an investigation that revealed he possessed images of child sexual abuse materials. Sherman was charged with one count of third degree endangering the welfare of a child (possession of child sexual abuse materials). Sherman was released on a summons.
• Matthew Fahmie, 33, of 30 Northover Place, Middletown, was arrested on Sept. 10 following an investigation which revealed that he possessed over 1,000 images of child sexual exploitation material. Fahmie was charged with one count of second degree endangering the welfare of a child (possession of child sexual abuse materials) and was released on the condition that he have no contact with anyone under 18 and restricted internet access.
• Valentin Valdetano, 20, of 359 North Bath Avenue, Long Branch, was arrested on July 31 following an investigation that revealed he possessed and traded images of child sexual abuse materials using a chat platform. Valdetano was charged with second degree endangering the welfare of a child (distribution of child sexual abuse materials) and third degree endangering the welfare of a child (possession of child sexual abuse materials). Valdetano was released on the condition that he have no contact with anyone under 18 and that he not use the internet.
• Zachary Barnett, 24, of 984 Twilight Way, Aberdeen, was arrested on Aug. 7 following an investigation that revealed he possessed images of child sexual abuse materials. Barnett was charged with one count of third degree endangering the welfare of a child (possession of child sexual abuse materials). Barnett was released on a summons.
• Brian Wioncek, 62 of 317 Shore Drive, Apartment C, Highlands, was arrested on Sept. 9 following an investigation that he possessed child sexual abuse materials. Wioncek was charged with one count of third degree endangering the welfare of a child (possession of child sexual abuse materials). Wioncek was released on the condition that he have no contact with anyone under 18 and that his internet usage is restricted.
• John Hynes, 21, of 90 Bannard Street, Freehold, was arrested on Aug. 21 following an investigation that revealed he possessed images of child sexual abuse materials. Hynes was charged with one count of third degree endangering the welfare of a child (possession of child sexual abuse materials) and one count of disorderly persons possession of a controlled dangerous substance. Hynes was released on a summons.
• Michael Pipitone, 38, of 157 Rutledge Drive, Middletown, was arrested on Sept. 2, following a proactive investigation which revealed he shared over 1,000 images and/or videos of child sexual abuse material. Pipitone was charged with one count of first degree endangering the welfare of a child (distribution of child sexual abuse materials) and second degree endangering the welfare of a child (possession of child sexual abuse Materials). Pipitone was released on the condition of home detention, no internet usage and no contact with anyone under 18.
• George Ichkitidze, 39, of 27-08 Whistler Drive, Freehold Township, was arrested on Sept. 25 following a proactive investigation which revealed he shared over 1,000 images and/or videos of child sexual abuse material. Ichkitidze was charged with one count of first degree endangering the welfare of a child (distribution of child sexual abuse materials) and second degree endangering the welfare of a child (possession of child sexual abuse materials). Ichkitidze was released on the condition of home detention, no internet usage and no contact with anyone under 18.
• Juvenile, of Freehold Borough, was arrested on Sept. 11 following an investigation that revealed he possessed images of child sexual abuse materials. The juvenile was charged with one count of second degree endangering the welfare of a child (possession of child sexual abuse materials).

If convicted of the first degree endangering, a defendant will face a maximum sentence of 20 years in state prison, Megan's Law, and parole supervision for life. If convicted of second degree endangering, a defendant will face a maximum sentence of ten years in state prison, Megan's Law and parole supervision for life. If convicted of third degree endangering, a defendant will face a maximum sentence of five years in state prison and parole supervision for life.

Ichkitidze's case is assigned to Assistant Prosecutor Diane Aifer, Financial Crimes and Public Corruption Unit. The remaining cases are assigned to Assistant Prosecutor Stephanie Dugan, Computer Crimes Unit, according to the prosecutor's office.

Anyone who wishes to report information about a crime anonymously can submit a tip to Monmouth County Crime Stoppers by calling the confidential telephone tip-line at 1-(800) 671 4400 or by downloading the free P3 Tips mobile app, by calling (800) 671-4400 or by going to the Monmouth County CrimeStoppers website.

This post contains reporting by Nicole Rosenthal.