Fort Dix Inmates Shared Child Porn, Authorities Say

CAMDEN, NJ — Five men from five different states were arrested at the Federal Correctional Institution-Fort Dix and charged with new counts of distributing images and videos of child sexual abuse within the prison, authorities said on Wednesday. They had all previously been arrested on child pornography charges, according to Acting U.S. Attorney William E. Fitzpatrick.

The inmates are alleged to have used contraband cellphones and micro SD cards to distribute the images, which included the sexual abuse of infants and toddlers, as well as images of bestiality. The five men are also accused of selling and possessing with intent to sell the images and videos on federal property, as well as conspiracy to commit these crimes.

Anthony C. Jeffries, 31, of Orange, Virginia, is the alleged leader of the Fort Dix child pornography network. Authorities said he kept images and videos of child sexual abuse on a “cloud” account, and transferred these images to a government informant at Fort Dix on Nov. 1, 2016, on a micro SD card. The card contained images of infants and toddlers being sexually abused.

Erik M. Smith, 35, of Iron Mountain, Michigan, is charged with distribution of images of child sexual abuse and selling and possessing with intent to sell images of child sexual abuse on federal property. He is also accused of selling a micro SD card to a government informant on Feb. 15, 2017. He said he used postage stamps to obtain a cell phone for the cloud account, which is not permitted among inmates.

Jordan T. Allen, 30, of Plain City, Ohio, and Christopher D. Roffler, 29, of Virginia Beach, Virginia, are both charged with receiving payment for a micro SD card by a government informant at the facility. The incident involving Roffler took place on Nov. 1, 2016.

The incident involving Allen took place on Feb. 15, 2017. He told the informant that he used The Onion Router (also known by its acronym, “TOR”) to access images of child sexual abuse.

Brian J. McKay, 46, of Brookhaven, Pennsylvania, is accused of transferring the micro SD cards containing the images on Nov. 1, 2016, and Feb. 15, 2017, on behalf of Allen and Roffler. One of the cards included abuse images of prepubescent children, as well as bestiality. There were hundreds of images, authorities said.

Jeffries is already serving a 14-year sentence after pleading guilty to three counts of distribution of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography in Virginia. He was scheduled to be released on Aug. 13, 2022.

Smith is already incarcerated on a sentence of 19 and a half years after pleading guilty to to one count of receipt of child pornography in Michigan. He is scheduled to be released on March 26, 2027.

Allen is already serving eight and a half years after pleading guilty to one count of receipt of child pornography in his home state. He is scheduled to be released on Dec. 30, 2018.

Roffler is serving a eight years, four months in prison after pleading guilty to one count of receipt of child pornography. He is scheduled to be released on Aug. 22, 2019.

McKay is already serving 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to one count of distribution of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography in his home state. He was scheduled to be released on June 28, 2021.

Due to their prior convictions, each of the accused faces stiffer penalties if convicted.

The counts of distributing child pornography, selling and possessing with intent to sell child pornography, and conspiracy to commit these offenses – due to the prior convictions of each of the defendants – carry a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison, a maximum potential penalty of 40 years in prison, and a $250,000 fine.