Child Porn Charges In Newark: 2 Men Accused In 1 Week

NEWARK, NJ — A pair of separate child pornography charges were filed against Newark residents last week, authorities said.

On Nov. 20, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced that Keith Voolgaris, 62, of Newark, has been charged by indictment with one count of distributing child pornography and one count of possessing child pornography.

Voolgaris was initially charged by complaint in September 2019.

Prosecutors alleged:

“Between July 21, 2017, and Sept. 8, 2017, Voolgaris distributed and possessed at least 50 videos depicting the sexual abuse of minors, including prepubescent children. He used a ‘chat’ website to send numerous messages to another child pornography distributor in Minnesota. Many of those messages contained links to Dropbox files that were found to contain images of child sexual abuse. A subsequent search of Voolgaris’ email accounts revealed numerous additional videos and images of child sexual abuse.”

Prosecutors said Voolgaris has prior convictions for receiving or distributing child pornography and for possession of child pornography.

The charge of distribution of child pornography by a repeat offender carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison, a maximum potential penalty of 40 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The charge of possession of child pornography depicting prepubescent children by a repeat offender carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, prosecutors said.

MAN ALLEGEDLY USED INSTAGRAM, FACEBOOK FOR CHILD PORN

On Nov. 25, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced a separate child pornography charge involving a Newark resident.

According to prosecutors, Ramon Zelaya, 36, of Newark, was charged by indictment with one count of sexual exploitation of a child, one count of receiving child pornography and one count of possessing child pornography.

Zelaya was initially charged by complaint in April 2019.

Prosecutors alleged:

“Between Aug. 20, 2018, and Sept. 23, 2018, Zelaya used Instagram messages to entice, threaten, and coerce a minor into creating and sending him sexually explicit images and videos. Zelaya also used multiple Facebook accounts to contact the victim’s parent and to send at least nude image of the victim.”

The charge of sexual exploitation of a child carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison, a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison, and a $250,000 fine. The charge of receipt of child pornography carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and a $250,000 fine. The charge of possession of child pornography carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, prosecutors said.

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