Man Charged with Receiving Images of Child Sexual Abuse

WEST WILDWOOD – A West Wildwood man was arrested July 16 by special agents U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), on charges he received images of child sexual abuse over the Internet using his cellphone, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.
Jeffrey Spicer, 44, of West Wildwood, is charged by complaint with one count of receipt of child pornography. He made his initial appearance July 16 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Joel Schneider in Camden federal court and was remanded without bail.
A bail hearing is scheduled for July 18.
According to the complaint and statements made in court:
On March 19, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at a home in Cape May, Spicer’s residence at that time. Law enforcement officers seized various forms of electronic and digital media from the residence pursuant to the warrant including Spicer’s cellphone, a thumb drive and a computer hard drive. They determined that these devices contained multiple images of child pornography.
On the receipt of child pornography count, Spicer faces a mandatory minimum term of 15 years in prison, a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted.
U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of the ICE-HIS, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Andrew McLees; the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Robert L. Taylor; the Lower Township Police Department, under the direction of Chief William Mastriana; the West Wildwood Police Department, under the direction of Chief Jackie Ferentz; and the N.J. Regional Computer Forensics Laboratory with the investigation leading to the charges.
HSI encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free hotline at 1-866-347-2423 or by completing its online tip form. Both are staffed around the clock by investigators. For additional information about wanted, suspected child predators, download HSI’s Operation Predator smartphone app or visit the online suspect alerts page.
The charge and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.