ELIZABETH MAN CONVICTED IN EXPLICIT CONTACT WITH MINORS

Ahmed Andre, a 62-year-old resident of Elizabeth, has been found guilty on multiple charges related to the prolonged sexual exploitation of two young girls. Union County Prosecutor William A. Daniel announced the conviction following a two-week jury trial overseen by Union County Superior Court Judge Candido Rodriguez Jr. The charges against Andre included first-degree aggravated sexual contact, second-degree sexual contact, third-degree aggravated criminal sexual contact, third-degree endangering the welfare of a child, and fourth-degree criminal sexual contact.

The case originated from a referral by the Elizabeth Public School District and was investigated by Sergeant Joanne Son of the Special Victims Unit of the Union County Prosecutor's Office. Assistant Prosecutor Peter Benza led the prosecution, revealing that the assaults began when the victims were nine and ten years old and continued over an eight-year period.

Prosecutor Daniel commended the bravery of the victims for coming forward and reaffirmed the commitment of the Union County Prosecutor's Office to prosecuting those who exploit vulnerable children. Andre's sentencing is scheduled for April 19, 2024, before Judge Rodriguez, where he faces up to twenty years in state prison for the first-degree charge, with a mandatory 85% period of parole ineligibility under New Jersey's No Early Release Act. Additional prison time may be added for the other convictions, underscoring the serious legal consequences of such crimes.