WASHINGTON, (Economy India): An Indian-origin man in New Jersey has pleaded guilty in federal court to knowingly accessing child sexual abuse material involving a prepubescent minor, the US Department of Justice said in a statement.
Abhishek Vijaykumar, a resident of Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey, admitted that he knowingly accessed the illegal material in March 2024. The case was investigated by federal authorities after information relating to the material was identified on his electronic devices.
According to the Justice Department, investigators examining the devices found more than 200 images depicting child sexual abuse. One of the files involved the sexual abuse of a three-year-old child by an adult male.
The discovery led to a federal investigation and subsequent prosecution. Vijaykumar later entered a guilty plea in federal court in New Jersey, acknowledging his involvement in accessing the prohibited material.
Under US federal law, the offence carries a maximum possible sentence of up to 20 years in prison. The court will determine the actual sentence after considering the circumstances of the case and applicable sentencing guidelines. Additional penalties may also be imposed.
The case is part of ongoing efforts by US federal law-enforcement agencies to identify and prosecute individuals involved in accessing, possessing or distributing child sexual abuse material. Authorities routinely examine electronic devices and digital evidence as part of such investigations.
Federal prosecutors have continued to stress that offences involving the sexual exploitation of children are treated as serious crimes, with substantial prison sentences available under US law.
Vijaykumar’s guilty plea brings the criminal proceedings to the sentencing stage, where a federal judge will decide the punishment applicable in his case.
(Economy India)
