NEWARK, N.J. — Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Newark, with assistance from the New Jersey Office of Attorney General and the New Jersey State Police, led an investigation that resulted in a guilty plea from a former caseworker for the New Jersey Department of Children and Family Services’ Division of Child Protection and Permanency for possessing and transporting child sexual abuse material.
Trent Collier, 57, of Kearny, pleaded guilty May 21 to an indictment charging him with one count of possession of child pornography and one count of transportation of child pornography before U.S. District Judge Brian R. Martinotti at the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey in Newark.
“For two decades, Trent Collier was employed in a position of trust with the state of New Jersey, given the responsibility to care for the most vulnerable, and asked to serve and empower at-risk children and families,” said HSI Newark acting Special Agent in Charge William S. Walker. “Collier’s admittance to charges involving possession and transportation of child sexual abuse material is startling departure from his responsibilities as a former civil servant. HSI and our partner agencies will devote every resource available to investigating, prosecuting and convicting those who prey upon the most vulnerable population — our children.”
According to the investigation, Collier arrived at Newark Liberty International Airport aboard a flight from the Dominican Republic. Law enforcement officers searched Collier’s cellphone and identified at least two images of child sexual abuse. In a statement to law enforcement, Collier admitted that he had previously sent child sexual abuse material to at least one other individual using his cellular phone and that that individual also sent child sexual abuse material to Collier’s cellphone. A further search of Collier’s cellphone uncovered additional images of child sexual abuse, including images depicting the sexual exploitation of toddlers.
HSI is at the forefront of the U.S. government’s efforts to combat online child sexual exploitation and abuse through its investigations, victim assistance programs, intelligence and analysis, policy development, and training and awareness programs.
For any child, parent or guardian searching for resources and information on how to prevent and combat online child sexual exploitation, visit Know2Protect. If you suspect a child might be a victim, please call the HSI Tip Line at 877-4-HSI-TIP.
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About HSI
HSI is the principal investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security, responsible for investigating transnational crime and threats, specifically those criminal organizations that exploit the global infrastructure through which international trade, travel and finance move. HSI’s workforce consists of over 10,000 employees, assigned to 235 offices within the United States, and 93 overseas locations in 56 countries. HSI's international presence represents the Department of Homeland Security’s largest investigative law enforcement presence abroad and one of the largest international footprints in U.S. law enforcement.