Toms River Man Admits Sharing Child Porn Via Kik Chats

TRENTON, NJ – A Toms River man pleaded guilty to sharing multiple images of child pornography over Kik, a social media messaging application, officials said Wednesday,

David Nelson, 44, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Freda L. Wolfson in Trenton federal court to a charge of distribution of child pornography, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito said.

Nelson admitted that in October 2017 he sent "at least" 26 images of child porngraphy under the user name "candicesloan1995" to another Kik user, Carpenito's office said. Nelson also admitted he was an administrator of multiple Kik chat rooms in which child pornography was shared and discussed.

Nelson was identified as a result of an investigation that started with an FBI arrest in Kentucky of a man who offered to broadcast the sexual abuse of his daughter over Kik Messenger to an undercover officer, Carpenito's office said. A search of his cell phone revealed chat group communications between that man and Kik user “candicesloan1995,” which was later revealed to be Nelson. Nelson was arrested April 9, 2018.

The distribution charge carries a minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 19, 2018.

U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited FBI special agents of the Franklin Township Resident Agency, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Gregory Ehrie in Newark, FBI special agents under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Amy S. Hess in Louisville, and FBI special agents under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Timothy Slater in Detroit, with the investigation. He also thanked the Toms River Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police Mitchell A. Little, for its assistance.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Brendan Day of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Trenton.

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