By Amy Batista, Special Writer
NEWARK — Federal officials are seeking the public’s help in a massive manhunt to locate a Hightstown man who allegedly is wanted for possessing child pornography, according to a press release from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations on March 12.
Fredy Marcelo Arbito, 30, of Hightstown, is wanted for possessing child pornography, officials said. ICE is seeking the public’s help to locate the suspected child predator, who agents believe still is living in New Jersey, although his exact whereabouts are unknown at this time.
According to Hightstown Police Director James LeTellier on Wednesday, this case is two months old.
”He’s not in the area,” Mr. LeTellier said. “He fled the area. We keep an eye out to make sure he hasn’t returned.”
According to Mr. LeTellier, it was a Homeland Security case so the Hightstown Police Department only assisted in the investigation at the time.
”There were some people concerned that the FBI was at some house, and we wouldn’t put out any information because it was an ongoing investigation, but, in fact, it was Homeland Security, not the FBI,” Mr. LeTellier added.
Early Wednesday morning, news vans were noticed driving around the town and knocking on residents doors on Morrison Avenue.
”All our sources say he is nowhere in the area,” Mr. LeTellier added.
Mr. LeTellier notified the Dr. Edward Forsthoffer, superintendent of East Windsor Regional School District, about the situation.
”There’s not much of a concern,” Mr. LeTellier said. “I advised the superintendent.”
”I did speak to Police Director LeTellier earlier, and we discussed what is occurring,” Dr. Forsthoffer said Wednesday. “Apparently, this individual has been gone for up to two months so this is an old story that was recently picked up by the news agency. He let me know simply because there were some questions coming based on seeing the news van.”
Dr. Forsthoffer reiterated that “if any resident has any information that would assist the law agencies, please reach out to them.”
In response to people being concerned, Mr. LeTellier assured them police are aware of it and keeping an eye on the situation.
”These are the things we take serious, and if he was in the area, we would actively pursue him, but he’s not, and that doesn’t say we won’t keep an eye out,” Mr. LeTellier said.
According to Mr. LeTellier, if there was a situation, police immediately would notify the borough and schools.
”There’s nothing to worry about,” Mr. LeTellier said. “The parents have nothing to fear, nothing from this individual at this point.”
According to the press release, Mr. Arbito allegedly was duping at least one young victim to produce additional child pornography.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Tonianne J. Bongiovanni signed the criminal complaint and federal arrest warrant on Jan. 29, 2013.
Mr. Arbito is described as 6 feet, weighing 150 pounds with a mole under his right eye. He is a naturalized U.S. citizen from Ecuador, agents said.
As a result of the investigation, HSI believes Mr. Arbito has similarly victimized other minors and may be engaged in related activities.
According to the criminal complaint, Mr. Arbito possessed child pornography. In addition, the investigation revealed Mr. Arbito allegedly used the Internet to victimize a minor by capturing and producing sexually explicit videos and images of the minor. Mr. Arbito allegedly accomplished this through a scheme by pretending to be a minor female who befriended the minor victim. Mr. Arbito then threatened to send those sexually explicit images to the public if the victim did not comply with his demand to engage in further sexually explicit conduct online via a video chat, according to the release.
Anyone with information on Mr. Arbito’s whereabouts may contact HSI in one of two ways: Call the tip line at 866-347-2423 or submit a tip online at www.ICE.gov/tips.
Both are staffed around the clock by investigators. All tips will remain anonymous.
The release advised individuals should not attempt to apprehend Mr. Arbito personally.
This investigation is part of Operation Predator, a nationwide HSI initiative to protect children from sexual predators, including those who travel overseas for sex with minors, Internet child pornographers, criminal alien sex offenders and child sex traffickers, the release said
HSI founded and leads the Virtual Global Taskforce, an international alliance of law enforcement agencies and private industry sector partners working together to prevent and deter online child sexual abuse, according to the release.
For more information, visit HIS on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube or access the news release on a mobile device.

