69-Year-Old Brick Township Resident Arrested for Possessing Explicit Images of Minors

By: Richard L. Smith

Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer has announced a significant breakthrough in a case related to the possession of explicit images of minors. Mr. Cesar Ortega-Zevallos, a 69-year-old resident of Brick Township, now faces serious charges in this matter.

The investigation leading to these charges was initiated following a referral by the New Jersey State Police Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force.

The ICAC Task Force received cyber-tips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, highlighting the uploading of explicit images of minors by an individual on the internet.

Consequently, the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crime Unit commenced an investigation, which successfully traced the IP address associated with a residence in Brick Township as the source of these uploads. Eventually, Ortega-Zevallos was identified as the individual responsible.

On November 16, a court-authorized search warrant was executed at Ortega-Zevallos’ residence in Brick Township. The collaborative operation involved personnel from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crime Unit, United States Department of Homeland Security Investigations-Newark, and the Brick Township Police Department.

During the search, the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crime Unit conducted a forensic examination of Ortega-Zevallos’ computer. The examination revealed a disturbing collection of over 1000 explicit images of minors.

Subsequently, Ortega-Zevallos was arrested without incident at his residence and has been transported to the Ocean County Jail, where he will remain until his detention hearing.

Ocean County Prosecutor Billhimer expressed his appreciation for the joint efforts of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crime Unit, the Brick Township Police Department, the United States Department of Homeland Security Investigations-Newark, the New Jersey State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Their collaboration proved instrumental in the arrest of Ortega-Zevallos and the discovery of this disturbing evidence.

This case is still under investigation, and further updates will be provided as they become available.