NEWARK, N.J. — An investigation by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Newark resulted in a 12-year sentence for a New Jersey man for illicit sexual conduct abroad, including production of child sexual abuse material.
Frank Maile, 68, of Hamilton and formerly of New Egypt, was sentenced Aug. 15 and pleaded guilty on Sept. 6, 2023, at the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey in Newark. Maile, a former pilot who traveled abroad frequently, was indicted on Count Four of a five-count indictment, charging him with illicit sexual conduct abroad; that is, a sexual act with a person under 18 years of age, a commercial sex act and production of child pornography.
“Maile’s depraved criminal behavior earned him significant time behind bars,” said HSI Newark acting Special Agent in Charge William S. Walker. “HSI Newark, with our partners stateside and overseas, work tirelessly every day to protect children from exploitation by predators who travel internationally to engage in illicit sexual conduct with minors. No child’s innocence should be stolen by the victimization that happens in the production, distribution and possession of child sexual abuse material.”
HSI Newark expressed appreciation for the support of HSI Manila in the Philippines, HSI Huntsville, the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office and the Plumstead Township Police Department in the investigation.
According to the investigation, from as early as 2013, Maile traveled to the Philippines and had sexual contact with two minor sisters. Maile had extensive, explicit chats with the minors’ pimp to arrange these meetings. Maile created images and videos of the two minor females engaging in multiple sex acts, in which Maile also participated. These sex acts constituted commercial sex acts because they were performed for compensation. Maile also possessed additional images of child sexual abuse when he was searched upon entering the United States in Alabama on April 6, 2018, and at the time of his arrest in New Jersey on May 1, 2018. Maile also admitted that he had distributed some of the child sexual abuse material to his then-roommate/tenant Dennis Nerolich. Nerolich pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography on June 20 and is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 6.
In addition to the prison term, Maile was sentenced to lifetime supervised release, registration as a sex offender, a $5,000 assessment under the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act, and a $50,000 fine.
Follow us on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @HSINewark to learn more about HSI’s global missions and operations.
About HSI
HSI is the principal investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), responsible for investigating transnational crime and threats, specifically those criminal organizations that exploit the global infrastructure through which international trade, travel and finance move. HSI’s workforce consists of over 10,000 employees, assigned to 235 offices within the United States and 93 overseas locations in 56 countries. HSI's international presence represents DHS’s largest investigative law enforcement presence abroad and one of the largest international footprints in U.S. law enforcement.