A former caseworker for the New Jersey Department of Children and Family Services, Division of Child Protection and Permanency, was sentenced to more than nine years in federal prison on child pornography charges. Trent Collier, 58, of Kearny, New Jersey, was sentenced to 109 months in May 2025 after previously pleading guilty to possessing and trafficking child pornography.
U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced the sentence, and U.S. District Judge Brian R. Martinotti gave it. In addition to the prison term, Collier was sentenced to five years of supervised release.
According to court documents and processes, Collier’s crimes were discovered after his arrival at Newark Liberty International Airport from the Dominican Republic on September 28, 2021. Law enforcement officers searched his mobile phone at the airport and discovered at least two photographs of child pornography. During questioning, Collier admitted to sending and receiving such content over his phone. Further research revealed further video content, some of which involved the sexual exploitation of toddlers.
The investigation was carried out by special agents from the United States Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Newark, led by Special Agent in Charge Ricky J. Patel, in collaboration with the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General, which was led at the time by Acting Attorney General Matthew J. J.Platkin.
This case falls under Project Safe Childhood, a 2006 initiative launched by the United States Department of Justice to address child exploitation. The program’s goal is to locate and support victims of child sexual abuse and pornography, as well as to identify, apprehend, and prosecute those responsible.
Lauren D. Kober, Assistant United States Attorney for the Criminal Division in Newark, prosecuted the case.
Residents can find out more about Project Safe Childhood and other efforts at justice.gov/psc.
