On Tuesday, January 18, 2022, members of the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, Special Victims Unit, and the Union City Police Department arrested Mario Lopez Esquit, 25, of Union City, on charges involving the possession and distribution of videos depicting child sex abuse material.
On December 9, 2021, the Hudson County Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force was notified by the New Jersey State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Unit of a report of possible child exploitation material being shared on social media. An investigation by the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office identified Lopez Esquit as the individual associated with the distribution of the child sex abuse materials via his social media accounts.
Lopez Esquit was arrested on a warrant charging him with Endangering the Welfare of a Child for Knowingly Distributing Videos of a Child Engaged in a Prohibited Sexual Act, in violation of 2C:24-4b (5)(a)(i), a crime of the second degree, and Endangering the Welfare of a Child for Knowingly Possessing Videos of a Child Engaged in a Prohibited Sexual Act, in violation of 2C:24-4b (5)(b)(iii), a crime of the third degree.
He was remanded to the Hudson County Correctional Facility pending his first court appearance.
Prosecutor Suarez credited the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the Special Victims Unit, the New Jersey State Police, and the Union City Police Department with the investigation.
The above charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty. R.P.C.3.6(b)(6)
