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A Middletown, NJ resident received a 14-year federal prison sentence after admitting to sharing and promoting child sexual abuse material across obscure online communities.
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He made available the aforementioned CSA Material on the Dark Web, which consists of non-mainstream sites and/or Private Sites that provide different types of Internet users with anonymous access to them.
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Golden has alleged that he had been providing CSA Material via these Private Internet Communities for a lengthy period of time.
Federal prosecutors announced that a 39-year-old Middletown, New Jersey, man was sentenced to 14 years in prison for distributing abusive images of children by way of the “dark Web”.
According to prosecutors, the man had been sharing and promoting abusive images of children through “dark Web” channels for several years and actively participating in multiple secret online communities that promote the distribution of such images.
Facts and Background
According to the government, Declan Golden’s online activities first came to their attention when they began looking into dark web communities hosting illegal content. This type of proactive monitoring is a key tool for agencies, sometimes evolving into full undercover operations like the recent FBI dark web sting that ensnared a mother and a sex offender. Between 2020 and 2023, Golden used multiple online platforms to share and support Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) materials.
Authorities have stated that he used the Tor network to route his internet traffic through several levels of encryption, hiding his activity from others.
Many governmental agencies have been advising about the misuse of the Tor network by individuals who are out to distribute or sell materials that are in violation of the law, whereas the Tor network serves many legitimate privacy purposes for the public.
As per the evidence presented in court, Golden was not simply accumulating files for his own private enjoyment; the prosecutors contend that he actively uploaded and shared similar files with other users of the various online forums.
Thus, he was helping maintain networks that primarily conducted harmful and unlawful activities.
Evidence and Online Activity
During the inquiry, law enforcement personnel requested search warrants and used them to inspect and review Golden’s digital devices.
An extensive forensic analysis of the devices revealed numerous items (photos & videos that are labelled as C.S.A.M. or Child Sexual Abuse Material, according to law enforcement).
In his statement to the investigators, Golden acknowledged that he had viewed such material for approximately ten years, with records indicating that Golden’s activity in this field began in 2014.
From the information that Golden provided, law enforcement has indicated that this evidence supports their belief that Golden’s offences are part of a long-term pattern.
Authorities recovered online posts made by Golden in which he allegedly stated that he recorded girls without their knowledge in private areas, including bathrooms and showers. Prosecutors confirmed that Golden faced no outstanding charges for hidden camera recording and that they had not filed any additional charges related to these statements.
Sentencing and Legal Consequences
By early May 2025, Golden had even admitted guilt to one federal felony promotion of child abuse materials.
Due to Golden’s prior record and the effect on his victims from the spread of criminally exploitative materials, the Federal District Court Judge sentenced him to 14 years of imprisonment.
In addition to Golden’s 14 years of imprisonment, the court also mandated a 15-year period of supervised release following Golden’s prison term.
This comes with strict conditions enforced during that term, such as electronically monitored conditions and only limited internet access, all intended to minimize his exposure to reoffending.
Broader Enforcement Initiatives
The Department of Justice launched Project Safe Childhood in 2006 to strengthen investigations and prosecutions of child exploitation, and this prosecution is part of that initiative. All levels of government, federal, state, and local, are combining their efforts to maximize available resources, identify offenders, and dismantle the online networks that facilitate abuse.
This mirrors intensified international efforts, including recent operations where UK authorities have cracked down on child exploitation rings using encrypted dark web platforms.
The Justice Department continues to prioritize the prevention and investigation of unlawful behaviour occurring over the Dark Web. As such, they are urging all individuals to report any suspected online exploitation to local authorities.
Golden will begin serving his sentence immediately. Federal officials further reiterated that anyone who distributes or promotes child sexual abuse material via any platform(s) will be liable to receive lengthy prison sentences followed by long-term supervision.
This principle is being applied in a series of recent cases, including the impending sentencing of a teen soccer coach convicted in a dark web child exploitation scheme.
