Child Porn Gets Ex-Rutgers Professor Four-Year Sentence

Gavin Swiatek, 50, a former biochemistry instructor on the Rutgers University Cook Campus in New Brunswick, was sentenced to four years in state prison by Superior Court Judge Bradley J. Ferencz today, after he entered a guilty plea to charges of using his Rutgers computer to share child pornography in December.

Attorney General Jeffrey S. Chiesa announced the sentencing, and added the second-degree charge of distributing child pornography includes a permanent ban from public employment. 

The charges came to light after an investigation by the New Jersey State Police Digital Technology Investigations Unit and the Division of Criminal Justice Computer Analysis & Technology Unit. 

Swiatek was taken into custody on Jan. 10, 2012, at his home by State Police, and a laptop computer and digital media were seized both at his home and his workplace by investigators after searches permitted under search warrants were executed.

The investigation was led by Detective Paul Sciortino, of the New Jersey State Police Digital Technology Investigations Unit, and Deputy Attorney General Kenneth Sharpe, of the Division of Criminal Justice Computer Analysis & Technology Unit, who also handled the prosecution of Swiatek.

In Swiatek's plea, he allegedly admitted to using peer-to-peer file sharing to make multiple files containing child pornography easily accessible online on a shared folder on his work computer. Investigators reported finding numerous files containing child pornography, mostly videos.

“It is shocking that a teacher, someone who is supposed to be motivated to nurture and strengthen young people, would participate in a criminal network that derives gratification from the torture of children and the destruction of their lives,” Chiesa said. “Prison is the right sentence for this man and anyone else who joins the depraved network of people who share child pornography online.”

Division of Criminal Justice Director Elie Honig said her department is pursuing about 50 child pornography cases currently, adding there is "a statewide priority to prosecute defendants whose actions create a constant demand for images of children being sexually assaulted, abused, and, raped.”

“The arrest and conviction of this former educator sends a clear message that New Jersey law enforcement will not tolerate the victimization of children,” Col. Rick Fuentes, Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police, said. “Working with the Division of Criminal Justice, our detectives will leave no stone unturned to find individuals who engage in this disturbing behavior.”

Anyone who may have information about the distribution of child pornography on the Internet or suspect improper contact by unknown persons communicating with children via the Internet or possible exploitation or sexual abuse of children, should contact the New Jersey Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Tipline at 1-888-648-6007.