TOMS RIVER, N.J. — A Jackson Township man has been sentenced to five years in New Jersey State Prison for distributing lewd images of children, according to the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office. Andrew Anastasio, 60, was sentenced on Friday by Judge Kimarie Rahill, J.S.C., following a guilty plea entered earlier this year.
Anastasio will serve a minimum of three years without the possibility of parole. In addition to his prison sentence, he will be subject to Megan’s Law and placed under Parole Supervision for Life. Anastasio had pled guilty to the distribution charge on April 11.
The case was initiated by the New Jersey State Police Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, which received cyber-tips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The tips indicated that an individual was sending and receiving child pornography over the internet.
An investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crime Unit traced the activity to an IP address connected to a Jackson Township residence, which was ultimately linked to Anastasio.
Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced the sentencing, stating that the case underscores the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to combat child exploitation.
