Old Bridge Man Charged In Online Child Porn Sting

OLD BRIDGE, NJ — Eight men and one juvenile from across Middlesex County were arrested and charged in an online child pornography investigation done by the office of Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone.

Residents from Edison, Old Bridge, Woodbridge, Carteret and Piscataway were charged.

The first arrest was made November 1, and eight more men were arrested without incident and charged over the course of two days last Thursday and Friday.

The online sting was nicknamed "Operation Eagle Eye" by the prosecutor. Law enforcement, including the FBI, can track and monitor who is downloading and uploading child pornography files online. Federal law defines child pornography as any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving someone less than 18 years old.

The following were charged:

Albert Leonardis, 37, of Edison was charged with one count of second-degree distribution of child pornography, one count of third-degree Possession of Child Pornography (under 1,000 files), and one count of second-degree Storing and Maintaining Items Depicting the Sexual Exploitation or Abuse of Children Using a File Sharing Program.

Christopher Hernandez, 18, of New Brunswick, was charged with one count of third-degree Possession of Child Pornography (under 1,000 files).

Alexander Antoini De Oliveria, 39, of Old Bridge, was charged with one count of second-degree Distribution of Child Pornography, one count of second-degree Storing and Maintaining Items Depicting the Sexual Exploitation or Abuse of Children Using a File Sharing Program and one count of second-degree Possession of Child Pornography (over 1,000 files).

Joseph Marino, 40, of Carteret was charged with one count of third-degree Possession of Child Pornography (under 1,000 files), one count of second-degree Distribution of Child Pornography, and one count of second-degree Storing and Maintaining Items Depicting the Sexual Exploitation or Abuse of Children Using a File Sharing Program.

Paul Rubbe, 62, of Piscataway, was charged with one count of third-degree Possession of Child Pornography (under 1,000 files).

Edward Gicherman, 81, of Monroe, was charged with one count of third-degree Possession of Child Pornography (under 1,000 files) and one count of second-degree Storing and Maintaining Items Depicting the Sexual Exploitation or Abuse of Children Using a File Sharing Program.

Abhishek Pandya, 25, of Edison, was charged with one count of third-degree Possession of Child Pornography (under 1000 files) and one count of second-degree Distribution of Child Pornography.

Christopher Nicol, 20, of Plainsboro, was charged with one count of third-degree Possession of Child Pornography (under 1,000 files).

A juvenile male, 17, of Woodbridge, was charged with an act of juvenile delinquency for offenses which if committed by an adult would constitute as third-degree Possession of Child Pornography (under 1,000 files).

The investigation is active and continuing. Anyone with information is asked to call the Internet Crimes Against Children Unit of The Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office at (732) 745-5924.