Monmouth Man Possessed Child Porn, Uploaded To Instagram: MCPO

OCEAN TOWNSHIP - An Ocean Township man was charged in connection with possession and distribution of child pornography following a tip alleging that he uploaded the materials to his social media account, authorities announced Friday.

Alexander Mejia, 35, who resides on the 3100 block of Willow Drive in Ocean Township, was charged with second degree distribution of child pornography and third degree possession of child pornography, the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office said. Mejia was taken into custody on Feb. 4 and transported to the Monmouth County Correctional Institution (MCCI) in Freehold Township. He is currently lodged at MCCI pending a detention hearing.

In June 2020, the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Computer Crimes Unit/Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force received a tip regarding Mejia from the New Jersey Internet Crimes Against Children (NJ-ICAC) Task Force, according to the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office.

The referral reportedly came after a complaint was filed by the social media platform Instagram reporting a user utilized the platform to upload child pornography. Investigators then traced the account to Mejia and his Willow Drive home address.

A search warrant was executed at the address on Jan. 22, 2021 where evidence was recovered, including eight electronic devices.

If convicted of distribution of child pornography, Mejia faces five to ten years in state prison. If convicted of possession of child pornography, the Ocean Township man faces a sentence of three to five years in prison.