(José Niño, Headline USA) A New Jersey deputy attorney general has been charged in Pennsylvania after investigators alleged he used artificial intelligence to create and distribute child sexual abuse material online. A CBS Philadelphia report identified the defendant as Brian Richard Fitzgerald, 51, a Lower Makefield Township resident.
The Bucks County District Attorney’s Office said Fitzgerald faces felony counts of possessing child sexual abuse material, disseminating images or film of child sexual abuse material, and criminal use of a communication facility. Authorities have alleged misconduct, not secured a conviction, and Fitzgerald remains entitled to due process.
CBS Philadelphia reported that the inquiry began after the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received a July 10, 2026, CyberTip regarding an illicit image posted by a Discord user. Investigators used digital forensic work and account records to connect the Discord account and related internet address to Fitzgerald’s Edgewood Road home, according to prosecutors.
Police carried out a search warrant at the residence on Thursday. The district attorney’s office said investigators recovered prompts and scripts that they believe were used with an artificial intelligence program to generate child sexual abuse material.
Authorities also cited Discord chat records associated with the username thegentlemanpervert_2160_07833. According to CBS News, investigators said those records showed Fitzgerald admitting to creating multiple illegal images with artificial intelligence and sharing them with other users.
“No one is above the law, least of all someone entrusted with upholding it,” Bucks County District Attorney Joe Khan said. “Our office will pursue these cases aggressively and hold offenders fully accountable, regardless of their profession or title.”
Fitzgerald was arraigned Thursday and transported to the Bucks County Correctional Facility after a judge set bail at $2 million, CBS News reported. A preliminary hearing is scheduled later in October.
José Niño is the deputy editor of Headline USA. Follow him at x.com/JoseAlNino
