Five inmates have been arrested for distributing child pornography at the Fort Dix correctional facility.
CAMDEN -- Five inmates serving sentences in the federal prison at Fort Dix have been charged with distributing photos and videos of child pornography while in the prison.
The inmates -- all of whom were serving lengthy sentences related to child pornography -- were charged with using cellphones and micro SD cards to distribute the images as well as selling the photos and videos on federal property, acting U.S. Attorney William E. Fitzpatrick said.
They are scheduled to appear in Camden federal court Wednesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Karen M. Williams.
Anthony C. Jeffries, 31, of Orange, Virg., who is serving a 14-year sentence, was the leader of the child pornography network inside the prison, authorities said.
Officials say he maintained a "cloud" account of the photos and videos, which included "infants and toddlers and depictions of child sexual abuse," authorities said.
He transferred a micro SD card containing images to a government informant in prison in November, authorities said.
Brian J. McKay, 46, of Brookhaven, Pa., who is serving a 15-year sentence, also transferred the micro SD cards to a government informant in November as well as in February, authorities said.
Jordan T. Allen, 30, of Plain City, Ohio, who is serving an 8 1/2-year sentence, was paid in February by a government informant at the prison in exchange for the micro SD cards, authorities said.
Allen told the informant that he used an anonymous communication platform to access the images, authorities said.
Christopher D. Roffler, 29, of Virginia Beach, Virg., who is serving a more than 8-year sentence, was also paid by a prison government informant in November "in exchange for the micro SD card that McKay transferred to the informant," authorities said.
Erik M. Smith, 35, of Iron Mountain, Mich., is serving a nearly 20-year sentence, sold a micro SD card containing the images to a prison government informant, authorities said.
Due to their prior convictions, the inmates face potential sentences of 15 to 40 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Spencer Kent may be reached at skent@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @SpencerMKent. Find the Find NJ.com on Facebook.