Mercer County Man, Former Pilot, Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison and Lifetime Supervised Release for Travelling to Philippines for Illicit Sexual Conduct

NEWARK, N.J. - A Mercer County, New Jersey, man formerly of Ocean County, New Jersey - a cargo pilot who traveled abroad frequently - was sentenced today to 144 months in prison for illicit sexual conduct abroad, including production of child pornography, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.

Frank Maile, 68, of Hamilton, New Jersey, and formerly of New Egypt, New Jersey, pleaded guilty on Sept. 6, 2023, before U.S. District Judge Brian R. Martinotti in Newark federal court to Count Four of a five-count indictment, charging him with illicit sexual conduct abroad, that is, a sexual act with a person under 18 years of age, a commercial sex act, and production of child pornography.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

From as early as 2013, Maile traveled to the Philippines and had sexual contact with two minor sisters. Maile had extensive, explicit chats with the minors' pimp to arrange these meetings. Maile created images and videos of the two minor females engaging in multiple sex acts, in which Maile also participated. These sex acts constituted commercial sex acts because they were performed for compensation. Maile also possessed additional images of child sexual abuse when he was searched upon entering the United States in Alabama on April 6, 2018, and at the time of his arrest in New Jersey on May 1, 2018. Maile also admitted that he had distributed some of the child pornography to his then-roommate/tenant Dennis Nerolich. Nerolich pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography before Judge Martinotti on June 20, 2024, and is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 6, 2024.

In addition to the prison term, Judge Martinotti sentenced Maile to lifetime supervised release, registration as a sex offender, a $5,000 assessment under the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act, and a $50,000 fine. Restitution will be determined at a later date.

U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of Homeland Security Investigations Newark, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge William S. Walker, with the investigation leading to today's sentencing.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elisa T. Wiygul of the Criminal Division in Camden.