2 Men Sentenced In Child Sex Trafficking Scheme In Lower Bucks Co.

MIDDLETOWN TOWNSHIP, PA — A Levittown man and a New Jersey man have been sentenced in a child sex trafficking scheme in which children were offered over a social media app, police said.

Jonathan Michael Mitchell, 39, was sentenced to 18-to-48 months in prison following an investigation into child sexual abuse material and potential child sex trafficking, the Middletown Township Police Department said on Tuesday.

Mitchell pleaded guilty to child pornography and criminal use of a communication facility on October 24, 2024, before Bucks County Court of Common Pleas Judge Stephen Corr.

The investigation began on July 2, 2024, when a social worker from Capital Health in Trenton, N.J., contacted Trenton Police Department and Middletown Township Police.

The social worker reported contact with Jereme Benyola, 53, of Sicklerville, N.J., who mentioned children on an illicit dating app, child sex trafficking, and child sexual abuse material. Benyola indicated the children were located at a Middletown Township-Levittown apartment complex.

Middletown Township Detectives, along with Trenton Police Detectives and Mercer County Prosecutors, responded to Capital Health. Benyola identified another man involved as "Steve Carrol," who detectives later identified as Mitchell.

After detectives obtained a search warrant for Benyola’s cell phone, they found child sexual abuse material videos sent to Benyola from Mitchell.

The investigation revealed Benyola offered money to meet the children and traveled to Levittown for this purpose. Conversations between Benyola and Mitchell transitioned from an illicit dating app to the Telegram app. Additional search warrants and subpoenas were obtained based on this information, police said.

On July 22, 2024, a search warrant was executed at Mitchell’s apartment. Mitchell was taken into custody at a different location on an unrelated warrant, and his phone was recovered. He was interviewed by Detectives Platenecky and Groves, denying any involvement. A forensic examination of Mitchell’s phone confirmed his relationship with Benyola.

Mitchell was charged with dissemination of photo/film of child sex acts, child pornography, and criminal use of a communication facility. In addition to his confinement, Mitchell received 36 months’ probation/sex offender supervision and was designated a Tier 1 Sexual Offender under Megan’s Law. He is currently serving his sentence at SCI Dallas.

Benyola also faced charges, including criminal attempt-involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child, criminal attempt-indecent assault, and child pornography. On November 17, 2025, Benyola entered a nolo contendere plea to several charges.

On Feb. 19, Benyola was sentenced before Bucks County Court of Common Pleas Judge Charissa Liller to 7-15 years confinement, followed by 25 years’ probation/sex offender supervision, with no contact with minors or internet access. Benyola remains in custody at the Bucks County Correctional Facility.