Egg Harbor Township Man Charged With Distributing More Than 3,000 Images of Child Pornography

A 37-year-old Egg Harbor Township man has been charged with possessing and distributing more than 3,000 images and videos depicting acts of child pornography online, Acting Attorney General John J. Hoffman announced Tuesday morning.

Thomas Ballard was arrested by detectives at his home on Monday following the execution of a search warrant.

Authorities seized two personal computers and several cell phones that allegedly belonged to him following a search of his home and vehicle, a red 1992 Ford F-150 pick-up truck.

He was charged with second-degree distribution of child pornography, third-degree possession of child pornography and fourth-degree tampering with evidence.

He is currently being held in Atlantic County Jail on $100,000 bail.

Law enforcement began investigating Ballard in 2010 when they allegedly discovered he was posting a large number of comments on a website that is known to be used by those interested in images of child pornography.

In one comment, he indicated that he “trades privately,” which investigators determined meant he trades pornographic images of children through email rather than on the website.

Ballard allegedly sent more than 3,000 images and videos depicting child pornography via email between October of 2013 and March of 2014.

Several of the files show prepubescent girls being bound and tortured with knives pointed at them.

Second-degree crimes carry a prison sentence of 5 to 10 years and a criminal fine of up to $150,000, while third-degree crimes carry sentences of 3 to 5 years in prison and fines of up to $15,000. Fourth-degree crimes can carry prison sentences of to 18 months and fines up to $10,000.

The Division of Criminal Justice Computer Crimes Unit and the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness Investigations coordinated the investigation.

They were assisted by the New Jersey State Police Digital Technology Investigations Unit, the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office and the Egg Harbor Township Police Department.

The attached image of Thomas Ballard was provided by the Attorney General’s Office.