A Paterson man has been charged with the distribution and possession of child pornography, according to an announcement by U.S. Attorney Alina Habba. Dwayne Smalls, 25, faced these charges following a complaint and appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jessica S. Allen in Newark federal court.
Court documents reveal that Smalls allegedly used messaging platforms to advertise and distribute images and videos depicting child sexual abuse material (CSAM), including content involving prepubescent minors. Law enforcement's investigation uncovered that between August 2023 and October 2023, Smalls distributed CSAM on multiple occasions. A search of his cell phone resulted in the discovery of approximately eleven unique video files containing CSAM.
The charge for distributing child pornography carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison, with a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Possession charges carry up to ten years in prison along with a similar fine.
U.S. Attorney Habba credited the FBI’s Child Exploitation Operational Unit for their investigative work leading to these charges. She also acknowledged assistance from the FBI Newark’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force under Acting Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse nationwide.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Stern from the Opioid Abuse Prevention and Enforcement Unit in Newark represents the government in this matter.
It should be noted that all charges contained within the complaint are accusations; Smalls is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Defense counsel for Smalls is Tatiana Nnaji, Esq., Assistant Federal Public Defender.