NJ man had ‘child rape’ videos on his computer, authorities say

BOGOTA — Police have charged a 70-year-old Bergen County man with distributing child pornography after discovering approximately 180 videos and images on a shared folder on his computer.

Rafael Andreu of Bogota pleaded guilty to second degree distribution of child pornography, according to a statement Tuesday by Attorney General Christopher S. Porrino.

Authorities say in pleading guilty, Andreu admitted to using an internet file-sharing program to share child pornography with users who were able to download the images from a “shared folder” on his computer.

"Numerous videos of child pornography, including child rape videos, were found on his computer," Porrino said.

Under the plea agreement, the state will recommend that Andreu be sentenced to four years in state prison, including 20 months of parole ineligibility.  He will be required to register as a Megan’s Law offender. Sentencing for Andreu is scheduled for Dec. 2.

The attorney general said detectives discovered that Andreu was downloading the images in August 2015, when police from the Division of Criminal Justice and the New Jersey State Police were investigating other people who had been using file-sharing software to share child pornography. The subjects used a "peer-to-peer" online network and investigators identified Andreu's computer as being part of the file-sharing. Detectives were able to download multiple files of child pornography from a shared folder at an IP address traced to Andreu’s home.

After executing a search warrant and seizing computer equipment on Sept. 9, 2015, Andreu was placed under arrest, the attorney general said. Under a plea agreement a sentence of four years in state prison has been recommended by prosecutors, including 20 months of parole ineligibility. In addition, he will be required to register as a Megan’s Law offender. Andreu's sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 2.

“By sending defendants like Andreu to prison, we send a message to those who share this filth online that this is a very serious crime with very serious consequences,” Porrino said. “We’ll continue to make these cases a top priority in order to protect children, who are tortured to create these videos and re-victimized each time they are viewed.”

Toniann Antonelli is a social content producer for NJ 101.5. She can be reached at toniann.antonelli@townsquaremedia.com, or on Twitter @ToniRadio1015.

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