Bayonne, NJ – A Bayonne man has been arrested and charged after authorities say hundreds of files containing child sexual abuse material were discovered on his electronic devices following a months-long investigation.
According to Acting Hudson County Prosecutor Wayne Mello, 28-year-old Anthony Santiago was taken into custody Wednesday, January 7, 2026, by members of the Bayonne Police Department. The arrest followed an investigation by the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
Santiago is charged with third-degree endangering the welfare of a child for possession of child sexual abuse material, a violation of New Jersey criminal statute N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4(b)(5)(b)(iii). Authorities said he was arrested without incident at Bayonne Police Headquarters and later transported to the Hudson County Correctional Facility, where he awaits his initial court appearance.
Investigators said the case began in July 2024, when the task force received information about child sexual abuse material being uploaded to a Snapchat account. A subsequent investigation uncovered hundreds of illicit files linked to Santiago’s online accounts and electronic devices.
Acting Prosecutor Mello credited the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, Special Victims Unit, Cyber Crimes Unit, and the Bayonne Police Department for their work in the case. Officials emphasized that the charge is an accusation and that Santiago is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Authorities say a Bayonne man was arrested after investigators uncovered hundreds of child sex abuse files linked to his online accounts.
