TOMS RIVER, N.J. — A 39-year-old Toms River man has been charged with possession of child sexual abuse material following a joint investigation led by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, officials announced Wednesday.
Justin Thomas was arrested after authorities executed a court-authorized search warrant at his residence on July 31. A forensic examination of a USB drive recovered from his desk uncovered several files containing child sexual abuse material, according to Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer.
The investigation began after the New Jersey State Police Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force received a cyber-tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children about images being uploaded online. Authorities traced the uploads to an IP address linked to Thomas’ home.
Detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crime Unit, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Toms River Township Police Department took part in the search and arrest operation.
Thomas was transported to Toms River Township Police Headquarters before being lodged in the Ocean County Jail.