North Bergen Man Sentenced to 135 Months for Possession of Child Pornography

Christopher Carvajal, 31, received over 11 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possessing images of child sexual abuse.

Christopher Carvajal, 31, of North Bergen, was sentenced to 135 months in prison after pleading guilty to possessing child pornography, according to U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger. U.S. District Judge Claire C. Cecchi handed down the sentence in Newark federal court following Carvajal's earlier admission to the charges.

The investigation began in April 2023 when Carvajal’s iPhone was seized at Newark International Airport. A search of the device uncovered more than 900 videos and over 400 images depicting the sexual abuse of minors, including infants and toddlers. Further examination revealed communications in which Carvajal expressed a desire for sexual encounters with young children. Carvajal had previously been convicted of a child pornography offense in Bergen County Superior Court, making him a repeat offender.

In addition to his prison term, Carvajal was sentenced to 15 years of supervised release. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited Homeland Security Investigations Newark for their role in the investigation, led by Acting Special Agent in Charge Spiros Karabinas.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Specht of the Special Prosecutions Division in Newark. This sentencing highlights the ongoing efforts of federal law enforcement to combat child exploitation and hold offenders accountable.