Federal Bureau of Investigation - Newark Field Division - Press Release

Brick Man Charged with Production, Receipt, and Possession of Child Pornography

TRENTON – A Brick man was arrested today on a three-count criminal Complaint charging him with producing, receiving and possessing child pornography, U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie announced.

The Complaint, which was issued under seal on Nov. 13, 2008, alleges that from Nov. 1, 2006, until Jan. 8, 2007, Christopher M. Rudow, 36, persuaded, enticed, and coerced a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a video-record of the conduct.

According to the Complaint, on Jan. 8, 2007, a search warrant was executed at Rudow's residence, during which law enforcement authorities seized, among other items, two computers, a canon digital video camera and a Sprint Palmone Treo 650 camera phone. Rudow was arrested by Brick Township Police Officers at the time of the search.

The case has now been adopted for federal prosecution.

The Complaint was unsealed following Rudow’s surrender this morning to Special Agents with the FBI. The defendant made an initial appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Tonianne J. Bongiovanni, who detained the defendant pending a bail hearing scheduled for Nov. 19, 2008.

Despite the charges set forth in the complaint, every defendant is presumed innocent, unless and until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, following a trial at which the defendant has all of the trial rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and federal law.

The charge of production of child pornography carries a maximum statutory sentence of 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of receipt of child pornography carries a maximum statutory sentence of 20 years and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of possession of child pornography carries maximum statutory sentences of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

In determining an actual sentence, the judge to whom the case is assigned would, upon a conviction, consult the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide appropriate sentencing ranges that take into account the severity and characteristics of the offense, the defendant's criminal history, if any, and other factors. The judge, however, is not bound by those guidelines in determining a sentence.

Parole has been abolished in the federal system. Defendants who are given custodial terms must serve nearly all that time.

Christie credited Special Agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Weysan Dun, Police Officers with the Brick Police Department, under the direction of Chief Rick Bergquist, and Investigator with the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Marlene Lynch Ford, with the investigation leading to the criminal complaint.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jimmy Kitchen of the Criminal Division in Trenton.

NEWS United States Department of Justice U.S. Attorney, District of New Jersey 402 East State Street, Room 430 Trenton, New Jersey 08608 Christopher J. Christie, U.S. Attorney More Information? Call the Assistant U.S. Attorney or other contact listed below to see if more information is available. News on the Internet: News Releases, related documents and advisories are posted short-term at our website, along with links to our archived releases at the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. Go to: http://www.njusao.org/break.html
Assistant U.S. Attorney JIMMY KITCHEN 609-989-2258	rudo1114.rel FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Nov 14, 2008

Greg Reinert, PAO Public Affairs Office http://www.njusao.org 856-757-5233 973-645-2888
Brick Man Charged with Production, Receipt, and Possession of Child Pornography TRENTON – A Brick man was arrested today on a three-count criminal Complaint charging him with producing, receiving and possessing child pornography, U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie announced. The Complaint, which was issued under seal on Nov. 13, 2008, alleges that from Nov. 1, 2006, until Jan. 8, 2007, Christopher M. Rudow, 36, persuaded, enticed, and coerced a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a video-record of the conduct. According to the Complaint, on Jan. 8, 2007, a search warrant was executed at Rudow's residence, during which law enforcement authorities seized, among other items, two computers, a canon digital video camera and a Sprint Palmone Treo 650 camera phone. Rudow was arrested by Brick Township Police Officers at the time of the search. The case has now been adopted for federal prosecution. The Complaint was unsealed following Rudow’s surrender this morning to Special Agents with the FBI. The defendant made an initial appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Tonianne J. Bongiovanni, who detained the defendant pending a bail hearing scheduled for Nov. 19, 2008. Despite the charges set forth in the complaint, every defendant is presumed innocent, unless and until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, following a trial at which the defendant has all of the trial rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and federal law. The charge of production of child pornography carries a maximum statutory sentence of 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of receipt of child pornography carries a maximum statutory sentence of 20 years and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of possession of child pornography carries maximum statutory sentences of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. In determining an actual sentence, the judge to whom the case is assigned would, upon a conviction, consult the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide appropriate sentencing ranges that take into account the severity and characteristics of the offense, the defendant's criminal history, if any, and other factors. The judge, however, is not bound by those guidelines in determining a sentence. Parole has been abolished in the federal system. Defendants who are given custodial terms must serve nearly all that time. Christie credited Special Agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Weysan Dun, Police Officers with the Brick Police Department, under the direction of Chief Rick Bergquist, and Investigator with the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Marlene Lynch Ford, with the investigation leading to the criminal complaint. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jimmy Kitchen of the Criminal Division in Trenton.