Millburn-Based Lawyer Charged With Twitter Child Porn Distribution

MILLBURN, NJ — A lawyer with an office in Millburn was arrested last week on charges that he used anonymous Twitter accounts to distribute and receive child pornography, creating and accessing those accounts from the law firm, authorities say.

According to the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office, Michael Jimenez, 43, was arrested on the morning of Oct. 20 at his residence on Ogden Avenue in Jersey City. The same day, the New Jersey State Police and the Division of Criminal Justice executed search warrants at Jimenez’s residence and the law office where he works on Millburn Avenue in Millburn, seizing computers and other potential evidence.

A preview of electronic devices seized from his home revealed more than 100 files of child pornography, prosecutors stated.

Jimenez is admitted to practice law in New York, not New Jersey, but he practices from the office in Millburn, prosecutors said.

Jimenez was charged with second-degree distribution of child pornography and third-degree possession of more than 100 images of child pornography. He was released without bail after being processed.

According to prosecutors, Jimenez was charged as the result of an investigation by the New Jersey State Police Digital Technology Investigations Unit (DTIU), the Division of Criminal Justice Financial & Computer Crimes Bureau, and other members of the New Jersey Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force.

“The investigation began after the New Jersey State Police received tips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children about three Twitter accounts that allegedly were used to upload and distribute images of child pornography,” prosecutors stated in a news release. “The state’s investigation revealed that those Twitter accounts allegedly were created using an IP address linked to Jimenez at the law office in Millburn. The accounts allegedly were repeatedly accessed from the IP address at the law firm as well as IP addresses associated with two recent residences of Jimenez in Jersey City, including his current residence.”

Prosecutors allege that Jimenez created the three Twitter accounts in succession, opening a new account each time Twitter closed down an account. Twitter ultimately closed all three accounts because of the alleged distribution of illicit images.

It is alleged that Jimenez used the accounts to receive and distribute child pornography, allegedly tweeting multiple images of child pornography, including images of prepubescent children engaging in sexual acts.

“Jimenez allegedly had more than 800 followers on Twitter who received the child pornography he distributed,” prosecutors said. “He allegedly had his Twitter account set to only accept followers who also were actively posting similar images.”

According to prosecutors, second-degree crimes carry a sentence of five to 10 years in state prison and a fine of up to $150,000, while third-degree crimes carry a sentence of three to five years in prison and a fine of up to $15,000. The third-degree charge of possession of 100 or more computer files of child pornography carries a presumption that the defendant will face a state prison term of between three to five years, even if the defendant has no prior criminal record.

Because the charges are indictable offenses, they will be presented to a grand jury for potential indictment, prosecutors said.

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