Crime & Safety

Rutgers Instructor Charged With Sharing Child Porn

University computer allegedly used to share hundreds of videos.

A Hillsborough resident and Rutgers University instructor has been charged with allegedly using the computer in his university office to share hundreds of videos of child pornography over the Internet, according the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General.

According to Attorney General  Jeffrey S. Chiesa and Criminal Justice Directors Stephen J Taylor, Gavin Swiatek, 49, a biochemistry instructor at Cook Campus was charged Tuesday at his home in Hillsborough by members of the New Jersey State Police. He was charged with second-degree distribution of child pornography and fourth-degree possession of child pornography.

Second-degree crimes carry a sentence of five to 10 years in state prison and a criminal fine of $150,000, while fourth-degree crimes carry a maximum sentence of 18 months in prison and a fine of $10,000.

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He was lodged in Middlesex County Jail with bail set at $50,000.

The charges are the result of an investigation by the New Jersey State Police Digital Technology Investigations Unit and the Division of Criminal Justice Computer Analysis and Technology Unit.

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The New Jersey State Police Digital Technology Investigations Unit determined that a computer user on the Rutgers University campus was using peer-to-peer file sharing technology to make child pornography readily available to Internet users. The State Police, assisted by the Rutgers University Police Department and Rutgers Office of Information Technology, traced the source of the child pornography to Swiatek’s office at Rutgers University.

The investigation revealed that Swiatek allegedly used the peer-to-peer technology to share hundreds of files containing child pornography, mostly in video format. His university computer has since been seized, and a search warrant allowed police to seize a laptop and other digital media from Swiatek’s home.

Det. Paul Sciortino of the New Jersey State Police Digital Technology Investigations Unit and Deputy Attorney General Kenneth R. Sharpe of the Division of Criminal Justice Computer Analysis & Technology Unit led the investigation. The Rutgers University Police Department and Rutgers Office of Information Technology also assisted.


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