A Toms River man pleaded guilty to distributing images of child sexual abuse using a social media application.
David Nelson, 44, admitted to using Kik Messenger as “candiceloan1995” to transmit 26 images of child pornography to another user between Oct. 24 and Oct. 26, 2017, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced Wednesday.
Nelson also admitted to being the administrator for multiple Kik chat rooms in which child pornography was shared and discussed.
His account was discovered during an investigation by the FBI’s Louisville, Kentucky, field office. Officers there arrested a man who offered to broadcast the sexual abuse of his 4-year-old daughter.
After searching that suspect’s cell phone, they found chats with “candiceloan1995,” which they tracked to Nelson.
He was arrested April 9.
He is scheduled to be sentenced Nov. 19. The distribution charge carries a sentence of five to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Carpenito credited FBI special agents of the Franklin Township Resident Agency, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Gregory Ehrie in Newark, FBI special agents under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Amy S. Hess in Louisville, and FBI special agents under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Timothy Slater in Detroit, with the investigation. He also thanked the Toms River Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police Mitchell A. Little, for its assistance.
