Hoboken Man Charged With Secretly Photographing Minor On A Cruise Ship

NEWARK, N.J. – A Hoboken man was arrested for allegedly using his cell phone to take a picture underneath a girl’s dress, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.

Jeffrey Goldstein, 31, was arrested July 31, 2018 and charged by complaint with one count of violating a voyeurism statute that prohibits photographing a minor’s private area without consent when that individual has a reasonable expectation of privacy. He appeared this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Joseph A. Dickson in Newark federal court and was released on $25,000 unsecured bond.

According to the complaint:

On July 8, 2018, a cruise ship left Bayonne for Bermuda. Goldstein was a passenger. That evening, a thirteen-year old girl was standing on the deck of the cruise ship facing outward toward the water.

Goldstein allegedly approached the victim and, without her permission, placed his iPhone underneath the skirt of her dress, pointed the camera upward towards the victim’s genitalia and buttocks and took a picture. The victim felt something touch her leg. Goldstein moved to the side of the victim and soon walked away.

A nearby adult saw Goldstein take a photo up the victim’s dress. Cruise ship personnel reviewed surveillance footage of the incident, which confirmed the witness’s account and identified Goldstein as the man in the footage.

Pursuant to a search warrant, the FBI later downloaded the contents of Goldstein’s iPhone and found the photo of the girl, along with several other “up-skirt” images.

Goldstein faces a maximum potential penalty of one year in prison and a $100,000 fine.

The federal government has special maritime jurisdiction. U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Gregory W. Ehrie in Newark, with the investigation.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Feldman of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Public Protection Unit in Newark.

The charge and allegations in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Defense counsel: Donald M. Lomurro Esq., Freehold, New Jersey.