Mercer Social Worker Helps Cops Break Child Sex Trafficking Case In NJ, PA

MERCER COUNTY, NJ — A tip from a Mercer County social worker led to the sentencing of two men in a child sex trafficking case in which children were offered through a social media app, police said.

The investigation began July 2, 2024, when a social worker at Capital Health in Trenton contacted the Trenton Police Department and Middletown Township Police, Bucks County, PA.

The social worker reported contact with Jereme Benyola, 53, of Sicklerville, NJ, who had mentioned children being offered on an illicit dating app, along with references to child sex trafficking and child sexual abuse material.

Benyola told the social worker the children were located at an apartment complex in Middletown Township, Bucks County.

Middletown Township detectives, Trenton police detectives and Mercer County prosecutors responded to Capital Health, where Benyola identified another man involved as "Steve Carrol." Detectives later identified that man as Jonathan Michael Mitchell, 39, of Levittown, PA.

Investigators obtained a search warrant for Benyola's cell phone and found videos of child sexual abuse material sent from Mitchell to Benyola. The investigation revealed Benyola had offered money to meet the children and traveled to Levittown for that purpose.

On July 22, 2024, detectives executed a search warrant at Mitchell's apartment. Mitchell was taken into custody at a separate location on an unrelated warrant. He denied involvement during questioning, but a forensic examination of his phone confirmed his connection to Benyola.

Mitchell pleaded guilty to child pornography and criminal use of a communication facility on Oct. 24, 2024, before Bucks County Court of Common Pleas Judge Stephen Corr.

He was sentenced to 18-to-48 months in prison, followed by 36 months of probation and sex offender supervision. Mitchell was designated a Tier 1 sexual offender under Megan's Law and is currently serving his sentence at SCI Dallas.

Benyola entered a nolo contendere plea to several charges on Nov. 17, 2025. On Feb. 19, Bucks County Court of Common Pleas Judge Charissa Liller sentenced him to 7-to-15 years in prison, followed by 25 years of probation and sex offender supervision, with no contact with minors or internet access. Benyola remains at the Bucks County Correctional Facility.

(With reporting from Dino Ciliberti, Patch Staff)

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