The Division of Criminal Justice Financial & Computer Crimes Bureau yesterday obtained a state grand jury indictment charging Andrew Derrickson, 50, of Lindenwold, N.J., with the second-degree crimes of attempted aggravated sexual assault of a child under 13, attempted manufacturing of child pornography, distribution of child pornography (two counts), and storing or maintaining child pornography using a file-sharing program. He also is charged with third-degree possession of child pornography.
The indictment stems from an investigation by ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Cherry Hill and the Division of Criminal Justice, assisted by the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office and the Lindenwold Police Department. The investigation began in early 2014 when HSI initiated an investigation of individuals using Internet chat rooms to exchange child pornography. Derrickson allegedly engaged in an online chat with a special agent of HSI who posed as a mother with an 11-year-old daughter. During the chat, Derrickson allegedly agreed to send videos and images of child pornography in exchange for the “mother” arranging a webcam show of her daughter performing oral sex on her father.
On four occasions, Derrickson allegedly sent child pornography to the undercover agent, sending a total of approximately 75 videos and images of child pornography, including numerous images of prepubescent girls being sexually assaulted. He allegedly engaged in additional online chats with the agent in which he continued to request that she deliver the promised webcam sex show involving her daughter. Derrickson allegedly used a screen name during the chats, but investigators traced the Internet Protocol address associated with the name to Derrickson’s house in Lindenwold, where the investigating agencies executed a search warrant on Oct. 9, 2014 and arrested Derrickson.
“Although Derrickson was dealing with an undercover agent, this case starkly illustrates how offenders who view and share child pornography online are constantly seeking new materials and, in doing so, are willing to motivate the sexual abuse of new victims in a very direct way,” said Acting Attorney General Hoffman. “There can be no question that online trading of child pornography causes the exploitation of new victims, as well as the perpetual re-victimization of those abused in the past.”
“We charge that if things had been as Derrickson believed and as he attempted to arrange them, he would have had a minor perform a sex act with her father in exchange for numerous videos of child pornography Derrickson already had collected,” said Director Elie Honig of the Division of Criminal Justice. “Fortunately, he encountered a federal agent in that chat room and not a like-minded offender prepared to instigate the sexual exploitation of yet another innocent child.”
“HSI has taken a very aggressive stance against the producers and consumers of child pornography in our communities,” said acting Special Agent in Charge Kevin Kelly of HSI Newark. “Those who would violate the most innocent among us should know that local officers, federal agents and prosecutors at all levels are standing shoulder to shoulder to hunt these predators down to protect those who cannot protect themselves.”
A forensic examination of Derrickson’s computer conducted at the FBI’s Regional Computer Forensic Laboratory in Hamilton revealed approximately 227 images and 925 videos of suspected child pornography. All of the videos and a majority of the images allegedly were in a designated “shared folder” on Derrickson’s computer, where they were readily available for any other user to download using file-sharing software. From January through September 2014, Derrickson allegedly distributed in excess of 100 suspected images and videos of child pornography to other Skype Messenger users.
Deputy Attorney General Denise Grugan presented the indictment to the state grand jury for the Division of Criminal Justice Financial & Computer Crimes Bureau. The investigation was conducted for the Division of Criminal Justice by Deputy Attorney General Grugan, Detective Richard DaSilva Jr., Detective Abraham Aquino and Sgt. Thomas Turley, under the supervision of Lt. Lisa Shea, Deputy Chief of Detectives William Fredrick, Deputy Attorney General Kenneth Sharpe, who is Deputy Bureau Chief, and Supervising Deputy Attorney General Michael Monahan, who is Bureau Chief.
Acting Attorney General Hoffman commended ICE Homeland Security Investigations Cherry Hill for their work on the investigation. Acting Attorney General Hoffman also thanked the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office and the Lindenwold Police Department for their assistance.
Second-degree crimes carry a sentence of five to 10 years in state prison and a fine of up to $150,000, while third-degree crimes carry a sentence of three to five years in state prison and a fine of up to $10,000. On the charge of distribution of child pornography, there is a mandatory period of parole ineligibility of five years if the defendant distributes 25 or more files of child pornography. For the charge of possession of child pornography, there is a presumption of imprisonment if the defendant is found to have possessed more than 100 files of child pornography.
The indictment is merely an accusation and Derrickson is presumed innocent until proven guilty. Derrickson remains in the Camden County Jail with bail set at $100,000.
The indictment was handed up to Superior Court Judge Pedro J. Jimenez Jr. in Mercer County, who assigned the case to Camden County, where Derrickson will be ordered to appear in court at a later date for arraignment on the charges. A copy of the indictment is posted with this press release at www.njpublicsafety.com.
Acting Attorney General Hoffman and Director Honig urged anyone with information about distribution of child pornography on the Internet – or about suspected improper contact by unknown persons communicating with children via the Internet or possible exploitation or sexual abuse of children – to please contact the New Jersey Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Tipline at 888-648-6007.
####