NEWARK, N.J. — A Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Newark investigation resulted in the sentencing of a Morris County man to 84 months in prison for possessing and distributing images of child sexual abuse.
Prior to the Sept. 16 sentencing, Anselmo Girimonte, 53, of Wharton, pleaded guilty to an indictment charging him with one count of possession of child pornography and one count of distribution of child pornography before the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey in Newark.
“Girimonte’s crimes fueled a network of depraved individuals who condone and contribute to the global epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse,” said HSI Newark acting Special Agent in Charge William S. Walker. “Our outstanding relationship with the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office, the Rockaway Township Police Department, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service led to the incredible success in the investigation leading up to the sentencing.”
According to the investigation, from Dec. 27, 2021, through Jan. 17, 2022, Girimonte distributed material containing images and video files of child sexual abuse on a publicly available online peer-to-peer file-sharing program. Law enforcement used undercover online sessions to access the peer-to-peer program, and during these sessions, a user shared multiple video files of adults sexually abusing prepubescent children from an IP address traced to Girimonte’s residence. During a March 2, 2022, search of Girimonte’s residence, law enforcement found over 100 images and videos depicting child sexual abuse, including images of prepubescent children being sexually abused, on Girimonte’s cellphone.
In addition to the prison term, Girimonte was sentenced 10 years of supervised release and ordered to pay $68,000 in restitution to the victims.
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Know2Protect (K2P) is a national public awareness campaign from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). K2P’s aim is to educate and empower children, teens, parents, trusted adults and policymakers to prevent, combat and report online child sexual exploitation and abuse. For more information, please visit K2P’s YouTube playlists at Know2Protect Campaign PSA Playlist and Know2Protect Digital Safety Series Playlist on the DHS main channel. Additional resources are available at Know2Protect.gov, Instagram, Facebook and X.