BAYONNE — Richard D. Rowley, 53, of Bayonne, was sentenced on Monday to 108 months in prison for trading images of children being sexually abused, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.
Rowley previously pleaded guilty to an “information” charging him with one count of receipt and distribution of child pornography. U.S. District Judge Joel A. Pisano imposed the sentence in Trenton federal court.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court, Rowley admitted that from March 7, 2009, through May 3, 2009, he received images of child pornography and shared them over the Internet. The images included graphic depictions of children under the age of 12 suffering sexual abuse.
As part of his guilty plea, Rowley agreed to forfeit the computers and computer accessories which he used to commit the offense. He will also be required to register as a sex offender.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Pisano sentenced Rowley to serve five years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of the FBI Newark Division’s Cyber Crime Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael B. Ward in Newark; the Orange County, Va. Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Mark Amos; and the Bayonne Police Department, under the direction of Chief Robert Kubert, with the investigation.
The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney José R. Almonte of the U.S. Attorney’s Office General Crimes Unit in Newark.