A transgender Marina Volz ( who used to be Matthew Volz, 32) and three others were sentenced to a combined of nearly 70 years in prison for using Volz’s 7-year-old child to make “amateur, BDSM and taboo fetish” pornography in the child’s New Jersey home, authorities said.
Ashley Romero (who used to be Adam Romero, 28), Sean Allen, 54, and Dulcinea Gnecco, 21, were all sentenced by Somerset County Superior Court Judge Peter J. Tober to 67 years in prison.
According to authorities the investigation started back in 2019 when an anonymous caller contacted the New Jersey Division of Child Protection and Permanency Child Abuse Hotline to report suspected child abuse. Protective services went to the home immediately and removed the child.
A search warrant was executed the very next day by the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Unit after interviewing the child. During the search authorities seized more than 30 computers, cameras and digital storage devices.
Police also recovered firearms, a high-capacity ammunition magazine, and cocaine from the defendants’ residence.
During the investigation authorities discovered that Volz, Romero and Allen ran a “family-owned transgender pornography production studio specializing in amateur, BDSM and taboo fetish content” from the home.
They brought the child into their ‘business’ in 2018 when Volz took custody of his biological daughter and took her to New Jersey with the plan of engaging in sexual activity with the 7-year-old.
Officials say Romero and Allen filmed the sexual assault and on at least one occasion sexually assaulted the child together. A video of the assault was found on numerous electronic devices which also contained text messages and other communications between the three adults talking about the assault.
The defendants were arrested in May of 2019 and entered guilty pleas in November of 2022.
The Hon. Peter J. Tober, P.J.Cr., issued sentencing May 6, 2022.
Volz is sentenced to twenty-five years with a twenty-five year period of parole ineligibility; defendant Romero to twenty-five years with a twenty-five year period of parole ineligibility; defendant Allen to twelve years with a ten year period of parole ineligibility, and defendant Gnecco to five years.
In addition, defendants Volz, Romero and Allen will be required to register pursuant to Megan’s Law and be placed on parole supervision for life upon their release from prison.
They will all serve their sentences in the New Jersey State Prison.
Official News Release:
News Release:
FRANKLIN TWP., N.J. –Four individuals involved in a pornography production company based out of Franklin Township arrested for child endangerment
Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson, Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Chief of County Detectives John W. Fodor and Franklin Township Chief of Police Richard Grammar announced the arrest of four individuals, Sean Allen, age 51, Marina Volz (formerly known as Matthew Volz), age 30, Ashley D. Romero (formerly known as Adam Romero), age 26, and Dulcinea Gnecco, age 19, all of Coburn Lane in Franklin Township, N.J., on charges including aggravated sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a child (age 7, known to the defendants).
Prosecutor Robertson stated that these arrests were made after a five month investigation conducted by the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Sex Crimes/Child Abuse Unit. In January of 2019, the Prosecutor’s Office received a referral from the New Jersey Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCP&P) reporting that a 7-year old child was residing in a home on Coburn Lane in Franklin Township, N.J., where Marina Volz (formerly known as Matthew Volz) and his roommates were creating pornography. On January 28, 2019, a search warrant was executed at the residence and it was discovered that the child was in fact residing in the home where a pornography production company was being operated, exposing the child to sexually-explicit matter. Electronic items, including cell phones and computers were seized for forensic examination. The child was subsequently removed from the home by the Division of Child Protection and Permanency in January 2019.
Prosecutor Robertson stated that during the examination and analysis of the electronic devices, several sexually-explicit photos and videos of the 7-year old victim were located. Criminal complaints were signed against four of the residents of the home. The defendants and their charges are as follows:
Marina E. Volz (formerly known as Matthew L. Volz) – 1st degree Aggravated Sexual Assault, 1st degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child (for the manufacturing of child pornography), two counts of 2nd degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child, 3rd degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child (for the possession of child pornography)
Ashley D. Romero (formerly known as Adam D. Romero) – 1st degree Aggravated Sexual Assault, 1st degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child (for the manufacturing of child pornography), two counts of 2nd degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child, and 3rd degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child (for the possession of child pornography)
Sean F. Allen – 1st degree Aggravated Sexual Assault, three counts of 3rd degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child (one count specifically for the possession of child pornography)
Dulcinea Gnecco – 1st degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child (for the manufacturing of child pornography) and 3rd degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child (for the possession of child pornography)
On Wednesday, May 29, 2019, detectives from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office, along with detectives from the Franklin Township Police Department arrested the above-listed individuals at their Coburn Lane residence without incident. They were all transported to the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office for processing and later lodged at the Somerset County Jail, pending a detention hearing.
Prosecutor Robertson and Chief Fodor request anyone with information to contact the Somerset County Prosecutors Office Sex Crimes/Child Abuse Unit at (908) 231-7100 or via the STOPit app. The STOPit app allows citizens to provide anonymous reports including videos and photos. STOPit can be downloaded to your smart phone for free at the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, access code: SOMERSETNJ. Information can also be provided through the Somerset County Crime Stoppers’ Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477) or at www.scpo.net and click on either “Crime Stoppers” or “TIPS HOTLINE”. All anonymous Crime Stopper tips will be kept confidential.
Note: We are required by the Rules of Court to include herein a statement explaining that the charges are merely an accusation and that the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
