Brian Fitzgerald, 51, is accused of using artificial-intelligence programs to create explicit images of children and sharing material depicting real children through social media. Investigators said they found prompts and scripts they believe were used to generate images, as well as chat logs in which Fitzgerald allegedly acknowledged creating and sharing them.

Fitzgerald was unable to post $2 million bail and remained in custody. A spokesperson for the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office said Fitzgerald’s employment had been terminated. The office said he had worked for the state for about 10 years, handling insurance-fraud cases.

Lower Makefield Police Chief Joseph Kelly said investigators are encountering more cases involving AI and child exploitation, as well as more tips requiring follow-up. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children began tracking AI-related child exploitation cases in 2023. The organization reported just over 4,000 cases that year and 400,000 in 2025, and said it expected the 2026 figure to double.

Lauren Coffren of the center said some tools used to create abusive material were not designed for criminal use, but can be exploited through targeted prompts and technology. The growing volume of cases adds to the demands on investigators and child-protection organizations, officials said.

The charges against Fitzgerald are allegations; a criminal charge is not a finding of guilt. Residents interviewed after the arrest voiced anger and sadness, while the case raises questions about the safeguards surrounding rapidly developing AI tools and the capacity of agencies to investigate their misuse.