Repeat Sex Offender, Union County Man Sentenced For Sharing Child Porn

UNION COUNTY, NJ — A registered sex offender and Union County man was sentenced Tuesday to 180 months, or 15 years, in prison for sharing multiple images depicting child sexual abuse while on supervised release for having child pornography, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.

Hugh Cohen, 65, of Elizabeth, previously pleaded guilty to an information charging him with one count of distributing child pornography. His sentence was imposed in Newark federal court on Tuesday.

Cohen was previously convicted in federal court on a two-count indictment charging him with possessing and receiving child pornography in 2010, for which Cohen was sentenced to five years in prison followed by seven years of supervised release.

The supervised release began on Oct. 29, 2014, and was to expire on Oct. 28, 2021.

While still on supervised release, from March 28, 2021, to April 24, 2021, Cohen had an ongoing sexually graphic conversation on a web-based application with an undercover agent, according to documents filed in this case and statements made in court.

Cohen sent the undercover agent multiple images depicting the sexual abuse of children. Law enforcement also found numerous images of child sexual abuse on Cohen’s cellphone.

In addition to the prison term, Cohen was sentenced to a lifetime term of supervised release. Cohen must also register as a sex offender.

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