Joseph Ambrosio an assistant comptroller for Jersey City who resides in Wall, has been arrested for allegedly chatting with law enforcement who were posing as young girls in an online chat room.  He was charged with one count of Attempted Sexual Assault, a crime of the second degree; 6 counts of Attempted Endangering the Welfare of a Child, crimes of the third degree, and one count of Attempted Criminal Sexual Contact, a crime of the fourth degree.

Based upon these charges, it is safe to bet that there were at least six different chats and that one of them got very heated due to the second degree charge. 

This was a broad investigation that was conducted by the Passaic County Sheriff’s Department, Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office, Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, and the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office.  The Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office, Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, Bayonne Police Department and the Jersey City Police Department also provided assistance.

If convicted, he is looking at 5 to 10 years in prison with no hope of avoiding prison.  However, I have been able to keep my clients out of prison/jail by working out these case early.

These cases often turn on whether or not the face (or other body part) of the defendant was shown via a webcam or images that were taken specifically for the would-be young girl.  If there is nothing other than text, then there is some room to argue that it was someone else.  Otherwise, that defense goes out the window.  Since almost all of these cases involve some type of video/image evidence, these cases almost never go to trial.

If this guy gets a good attorney right away, staying out of prison is possible.  If you have been charged with this or any other crime, call me to discuss.  Story is here.