New Milford Man Pleads Guilty To Child Pornography Offenses

Friday, November 8, 2024, 11:20 A.M. ET. 1 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,

NEWARK, NJ.- On Wednesday, November 6, 2024, Michael Kimmerle, 35, of New Milford, New Jersey, appeared in U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey and pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Claire C. Cecchi to one count of Distribution of Child Pornography; and one count of Possession of Child Pornography.

     According to U.S. Attorney Philip R.Sellinger and charging information filed with the court, beginning on August 24, 2021, and lasting through August 7, 2022, Kimmerle distributed material containing video files depicting child sexual exploitation and abuse through a publically available online peer-to-peer file-sharing program.

     Federal law enforcement agents used undercover online sessions to access the peer-to-peer program. During these sessions, a user shared multiple video files of child sexual abuse from an IP Address later traced to Kimmerle’s New Milford residence. On September 14, 2022, investigators obtained and executed a court-authorized search of Kimmerle’s residence.

Federal Agents Fing 600 Files Of Child Pornography

     During the search, federal agents uncovered over 600 thumbnail images containing child pornography on Kimmerle’s laptop computer, including digital images taken off video files Kimmerle previously distributed through the peer-to-peer file-sharing program.

     Following his guilty plea on Wednesday, Judge Cecchi accepted the plea and scheduled sentencing for March 11, 2024, at which time Kimmerle faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to 20 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000 on each count. 

     U.S. Attorney Sellinger commended the investigative work of the Department of Homeland Security Investigations, for the arrest and Kimmerle’s guilty plea.