NJ Man Charged With Sending Obscene Material To Minor

India-West News Desk

NEWARK, NJ -Mahir Chaudhry, 21, of Piscataway, has been charged with transferring obscene material to a minor, federal authorities said.

According to a criminal complaint, Chaudhry allegedly sent at least six obscene images via text message to a victim he knew was under the age of 16. The alleged acts took place between March and May 2023.

Chaudhry was arrested on August 27 and appeared the following day before U.S. Magistrate Judge André M. Espinosa in Newark federal court, where he was ordered detained pending the approval of bail conditions.

The charge is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

“The defendant’s arrest is a testament to the combined work of the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners to protect the people of New Jersey from individuals who prey on minor victims,” Acting U.S. Attorney Alina Habba said in a statement.

The investigation was conducted by the FBI’s Child Exploitation Operational Unit and the FBI Newark’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. The Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office and international partners also assisted. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney John Maloy.