A 21-year-old man from New Jersey, Mahir Chaudhry, presumably of South Asian origin, was arrested for allegedly sending obscene material to a minor with the knowledge that the person was under 16. Chadhry appeared before a court and was detained pending approval of certain bail conditions. According to court documents, Chaudhry sent a minor victim at least six obscene images via text message in 2023 at a time when Chaudhry knew the victim was younger than 16 years of age.The charge of transferring obscene material to a minor is punishable by a maximum potential penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.Acting US Attorney and Special Attorney Alina Habba said the arrest is a testament to the combined work of the US Attorney’s Office and the law enforcement partners to protect the people of New Jersey from individuals who prey on minor victims. “Chaudhry’s arrest is impactful on many fronts. He can no longer cause harm to minor victims, as the complaint alleges, and his arrest serves as a warning to others who think their actions are unseen. The FBI and our partners will stop at nothing to find and apprehend these predators,” Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy, FBI Newark, said.No other details pertaining to the case have been published. The case, the Justice Department said, was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by US Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) in the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children as well as to identify and rescue victims.
