Crime & Safety
North Jersey Man Arrested on Child Pornography Distribution Charges
Thomas Bachalis allegedly distributed images depicting child sexual abuse on the Internet via peer-to-peer file sharing software.
A North Jersey man was arrested at his home Thursday by special FBI agents and officers of the Passaic County Sheriff’s Office on a charge that he distributed sexually explicit images of children from his computer, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.
Thomas Bachalis, 30, of West Milford Township, is charged by complaint with one count of distributing images of child pornography over the Internet after allegedly distributing images depicting child sexual abuse on the Internet via peer-to-peer file sharing software on Aug. 15, 2013.
Passaic County Sheriff’s Office police officers executed a search warrant at Bachalis’ residence on Sept. 2013 and seized digital evidence that contained images depicting child sexual abuse - including material involving prepubescent minors, Fishman said.
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The distribution count carries a minimum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Bachalis is scheduled to make his initial court appearance Thursday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark Falk in Newark federal court.
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