BARNEGAT – A township man has been charged with distributing and possessing child sexual abuse material following an investigation involving state and county law enforcement agencies, authorities said.
Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that Fabian Lugo-Sanchez, 28, was charged Feb. 5 with distribution of child sexual abuse material and possession of child sexual abuse material.
The case began after the New Jersey State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force received a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Officials said the tip indicated an individual was sending and receiving illicit images online.
Investigators with the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crime Squad traced the activity to an IP address linked to a Barnegat Township residence. Authorities said the images were allegedly accessed and shared through the Kik Messenger application.
According to prosecutors, further analysis of the accounts connected to Lugo-Sanchez revealed that more than 1,000 items of child sexual abuse material had been shared.
Lugo-Sanchez surrendered to Barnegat Township police on Feb. 5 accompanied by his attorney, officials said. He was taken to the Ocean County Jail, where he remains held pending a detention hearing.
Billhimer credited the High Tech Crime Squad, Barnegat Township Police Department, the New Jersey State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children for their joint efforts in the investigation.
The charges are accusations only, and Lugo-Sanchez is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
