Child Porn Investigation Leads To Arrest Of 2 Mercer County Brothers

TRENTON, NJ — A child pornography investigation in Mercer County led to the arrests of two brothers along with the seizure of cocaine, a handgun, and more than $10,000 in cash, announced Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo J. Onofri on Tuesday.

In November 2023, detectives with the prosecutor’s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Unit got information from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that a person in Mercer County was uploading items that portrayed the sexual exploitation or abuse of a child, said Onofri.

An investigation identified Marcus Roberts, 32, of Trenton as the the wanted person, according to Onofri.

On Feb. 16, 2024, members of the Mercer County Tactical Response Team, with help from the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations Trenton, searched Roberts' Trenton home, where detectives seized multiple items of evidentiary value.

Roberts was taken into custody without incident. He is charged with one count of third-degree possession of child sexual abuse material.

During the search warrant execution, detectives also found 55 grams of cocaine, a loaded, 9mm semi-automatic handgun, a digital scale, and $10,480 in cash in a bedroom belonging to Jared Roberts, Marcus' brother.

Jared Roberts, 36, was also taken into custody and charged with drug and weapons offenses.

Second-degree crimes carry a sentence of five to 10 years in state prison and a fine of up to $150,000. Third-degree crimes carry a sentence of three to five years in state prison and a fine of up to $15,000.

Anyone with information about suspected improper contact by unknown persons communicating with children via the internet or possible exploitation or sexual abuse of children is asked to contact the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Unit at 609-989-6568 or the New Jersey Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force tip line at 888-648-6007.

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