Bayonne Man Charged with Coercing Minors and Producing Child Pornography

A 19-year-old Bayonne resident has been charged in federal court with multiple offenses related to the production, distribution, and possession of child pornography, as well as coercion and enticement of minors, according to a release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey on Tuesday.

Julian Nova was arrested following an investigation led by the FBI’s Child Exploitation Operational Unit. He was charged by complaint with two counts of production of child pornography, two counts of coercion and enticement of a minor, one count of distribution of child pornography, and one count of possession of child pornography. Nova appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge James B. Clark III in Newark federal court on April 17 and was ordered detained.

According to documents filed in the case and statements made in court, Nova allegedly used online platforms in late 2023 to persuade multiple minors to send sexually explicit content. Federal prosecutors allege that Nova posed as a teenage girl to engage the victims and later used threats to obtain further material.

Each count of production of child pornography carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison, with a maximum of 30 years. The coercion and enticement charges carry a mandatory minimum of 10 years and a maximum of life imprisonment. The distribution charge carries a minimum of 5 years and a maximum of 20 years, while possession carries up to 10 years. Each count is also subject to a fine of up to $250,000.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office credited the FBI Newark’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Terence Reilly, for its role in the investigation.

The case is being prosecuted under Project Safe Childhood, a Department of Justice initiative aimed at identifying and prosecuting individuals involved in child exploitation and abuse. The effort involves coordination between federal, state, and local agencies.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Kober of the Criminal Division in Newark and Trial Attorney Adam Braskich of the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section are handling the case.

The charges are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.