New Jersey man arrested for distributing sexually explicit images of children

NEWARK, N.J. — A Bergen County man was arrested Wednesday by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) on a charge that he distributed sexually explicit images of children from his home computer.

Robert Miller, 65, of Hackensack, faces felony charges distributing images of child pornography over the Internet. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Cathy L. Waldor in Newark federal court Wednesday afternoon and was ordered held without bail.

According to court documents, from April 30 to May 7, Miller distributed videos depicting child sexual abuse on the Internet via a peer-to-peer file-sharing program, which allowed others access to the material. An undercover agent discovered and downloaded the videos, and the username and IP address of the distributor were traced back to Miller's residence.

Prior to Miller's arrest, HSI special agents executed a search warrant at Miller's residence Wednesday and seized his computer and related electronic devices, which allegedly contained the peer-to-peer program as well as multiple videos and/or images of child sexual abuse.

The distribution count with which Miller is charged carries a minimum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The Bergen County Prosecutor's Office and the Hackensack Police Department provided assistance with the investigation.

This investigation was conducted under HSI's Operation Predator, an international initiative to protect children from sexual predators. Since the launch of Operation Predator in 2003, HSI has arrested more than 10,000 individuals for crimes against children, including the production and distribution of online child pornography, traveling overseas for sex with minors, and sex trafficking of children. In fiscal year 2013, more than 2,000 individuals were arrested by HSI special agents under this initiative.

HSI encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free Tip line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE or by completing its online tip form. Both are staffed around the clock by investigators. Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, an Operation Predator partner, via its toll-free 24-hour hotline, 1-800-THE-LOST.

For additional information about wanted suspected child predators, download HSI's Operation Predator smartphone app or visit the online suspect alerts page.

HSI is a founding member and current chair of the Virtual Global Taskforce, an international alliance of law enforcement agencies and private industry sector partners working together to prevent and deter online child sexual abuse.