A Weehawken man has been charged with enticing a minor victim online to produce images and videos of sexually explicit conduct, and producing child pornography, according to U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger.
Erick Solis, 25, is charged by complaint with one count of enticement of a minor to engage in criminal sexual conduct and one count of production of child pornography. He appeared by video conference on Jan. 20 before U.S. Magistrate Judge André Espinosa.
According to the documents filed in this case and statements made in court, from July 2020 to February 2021, Solis used a social media application to engage with two underage victims in sexually explicit conversations.
Solis ultimately instructed both victims to take sexually explicit photographs and videos of themselves and send them to him. At least on one occasion, one of the victims complied.
The count of online enticement carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum potential penalty of life in prison and a $250,000 fine. The count of production of child pornography carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison, a maximum potential penalty of 30 years in prison, and a $250,000 fine.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents with the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge George Crouch Jr. in Newark, with the investigation leading to these charges. He also thanked the Weehawken Police Department and Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office for their assistance.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Dong Joo Lee of the Violent Crimes Unit.
The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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