Gaetano Lapegna, 65, of Franklin pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of child pornography Tuesday, March 5 in federal court in Newark.
He admitted distributing videos and images of child sexual abuse, U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger said.
He was charged a year ago and accused of distributing videos and images of child sexual abuse via a publicly available online peer-to-peer file-sharing program:
During a search of his home March 30, 2023, law enforcement officers recovered more 100 items depicting child pornography on Lapegna’s thumb drive.
The count of distribution of child pornography carries a prison sentence of five to 20 years and a fine of $250,000. Sentencing is scheduled for July 23.
