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Date: 05-22-2024
Case Style:
United States of America v. Ramy Mercado
Case Number: 2:24-cr-00020
Judge: Claire C. Cecchi
Court: The United States District Court for the District of New Jersey
Plaintiff's Attorney: The United States Attorney’s Office for Newark
Defendant's Attorney: Vincent James LaPaglia
Description:
Newark, New Jersey criminal defense lawyer Vincent James LaPaglia represented the Defendant charged with Child Pornography and Naturalization Fraud
Hudson County Man Sentenced to 121 Months in Prison for Child Pornography and Naturalization Fraud
A Hudson County, New Jersey, man was sentenced to 121 months in prison for possessing images of child sexual abuse and committing naturalization fraud.
Ramy Mercado, 29, of Jersey City, New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty before Judge Claire C. Cecchi to an information charging him with one count of possession of child pornography and one count of naturalization fraud.
From June 2022 to October 2022, Mercado used his cell phone to transmit more than 20 video files depicting the sexual abuse of minors, including infants or toddlers. Mercado also used his cell phone to communicate his desire for sexual encounters with young children.
During this time, Mercado applied for and obtained U.S. citizenship and stated under penalty of perjury that since his citizenship interview, he had not committed any crime or offense for which he had not been arrested. In fact, Mercado had illegally possessed child pornography. Mercado became a naturalized U.S. citizen on June 22, 2023.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Cecchi sentenced Mercado to 15 years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of Homeland Security Investigations Newark, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge William S. Walker, with the investigation leading to the charges.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Specht of the Special Prosecutions Division in Newark.
Outcome:
Defendant was found guilty and sentenced to
Plaintiff's Experts:
Defendant's Experts:
Comments: