TOMS RIVER — A 40-year-old Toms River man has admitted to distributing child sexual abuse material, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced Monday.
Justin Thomas entered a guilty plea April 13 before Superior Court Judge Guy P. Ryan.
Prosecutors said they will seek a five-year sentence in New Jersey State Prison when Thomas is sentenced, along with five years of parole ineligibility. Authorities also plan to pursue parole supervision for life, and Thomas will be required to register under Megan’s Law.
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 about images being uploaded online.
Investigators traced the activity to an internet address tied to a Toms River residence, eventually identifying Thomas as the suspect, officials said.
On July 31, 2025, law enforcement officers from multiple agencies executed a court-approved search warrant at the home. During the search, detectives found a USB drive containing child sexual abuse material. Authorities later determined Thomas had also been distributing the material through a Snapchat account.
Thomas was arrested and taken to Toms River police headquarters before being lodged in the Ocean County Jail. He was later released under New Jersey’s bail reform policies.
The prosecution is being handled by Supervising Assistant Prosecutor Shanon Chant-Berry and Assistant Prosecutor Lynn Juan.
Officials credited several agencies for their roles in the investigation, including the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crime Squad, U.S. Homeland Security Investigations, Toms River police, the township’s emergency services unit, the state ICAC task force and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
A sentencing date has not yet been set.
