A Toms River man today admitted distributing images of child sexual abuse over a social media application, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.

David Nelson, 44, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Freda L. Wolfson in Trenton federal court to an information charging him with distribution of child pornography.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

As a result of an investigation conducted by the FBI Louisville, Kentucky, field office, law enforcement officers arrested an individual after he offered to broadcast the sexual abuse of his daughter over Kik Messenger to an undercover officer. A search of his cell phone revealed chat group communications between that individual and another Kik user operating under the user name “candicesloan1995,” which was later revealed to be Nelson. Nelson was arrested April 9, 2018.

Nelson admitted today that between Oct. 24, 2017 and Oct. 26, 2017, he used his Kik account under the user name “candicesloan1995” to transmit at least 26 images of child pornography to another Kik user. Nelson also admitted that he was an administrator of multiple Kik chat rooms in which child pornography was shared and discussed.

The distribution charge carries a minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 19, 2018.

U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited FBI special agents of the Franklin Township Resident Agency, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Gregory Ehrie in Newark, FBI special agents under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Amy S. Hess in Louisville, and FBI special agents under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Timothy Slater in Detroit, with the investigation. He also thanked the Toms River Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police Mitchell A. Little, for its assistance.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Brendan Day of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Trenton.