FBI TIP LEADS TO CHILD PORNOGRAPHY POSSESSION ARREST

On Tuesday, July 19, members of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crime Unit and Manchester Police Department arrested Lawrence Fascia, 63, of Manchester on one (1) count of 3rd degree Possession of Child Pornography and one (1) count of 2nd degree Child Pornography. Bail was originally set at $25,000 no 10% by the Honorable Judge Wendel Daniels, P.J.Cr.P., however, due to substantial health-related issues, Fascia was released to home confinement and is required to be on ankle bracelet monitoring until trial. He is prohibited from accessing the internet and electronic devices/computers as a condition of his release. He is also barred from having any contact with minors.

Fascia became the target of an investigation into the alleged Possession and Distribution of Child Pornography via the internet several months ago with a referral from the FBI. The FBI received an anonymous tip into Fascia’s activities on the internet, which they passed along to the OCPO High Tech Crime Unit. The FBI and the OCPO High Tech Crime Unit are active partners in the Innocent Images Initiative Task Force.

The investigation by the HTCU, with assistance from the OCPO Megan’s Law Unit, revealed that Fascia was allegedly actively trading images of prepubescent children engaged in sexual acts with other adults. A search warrant was executed at Fascia’s Drake Road residence which revealed a collection of thousands of graphic images of prepubescent children engaged in sexual acts, as well as evidence of trading the images via e-mail in order to build his collection.

The media and the public are reminded that criminal charges are merely accusations and that the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Lawrence Fascia

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