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OFFICIAL NEWS RELEASE

 
 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Office of Public Information (609) 882-2000
Capt. Al Della Fave ext. 6514
Lt. Gerald Lewis ext. 6516
Sgt. Stephen Jones ext. 6513
Sgt. Jeanne Hengemuhle ext. 6515

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
October 4, 2007


 
 
State Police Lock Up Dozens For Sending
And Receiving Child Porn

Attorney General’s initiative named Operation Silent Shield

West Trenton, N.J.Prior to the tragic story of the three-year-old Las Vegas Girl whose videotaped rape made recent national news, the New Jersey State Police Digital Technology Investigations Unit began coordinating a takedown of people transmitting child molestation images on the Internet.  Today at the Regional Operations Intelligence Center at State Police Headquarters, Attorney General Anne Milgram announced the results of the sweeping child pornography investigation dubbed Operation Silent Shield that resulted in 41 arrests.

“Child pornography is not a victimless crime,’’ Attorney General Anne Milgram said. “We are committed to combating abuse and predatory behavior against children.’’

“Many who have sexually assaulted children started down that road with child porn.  This operation places a roadblock in their path.  Those convicted of the charges announced today will become registered sex offenders and no longer be able to fly under the radar,” said Colonel Rick Fuentes, Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police.

Operation Silent Shield, led by the NJSP Digital Technology Investigations Unit (DTIU), targeted offenders who distributed known images and videos of child pornography via the Internet. The most commonly used images have unique digital thumbprints that can be identified as they are sent electronically.  State Police detectives filtered for these thumbprints and traced the senders and receivers who live in New Jersey. 

The investigation began in August of 2007.  The investigation encompassed 15 counties and numerous local, county, state and federal law enforcement agencies.

During the past 10 days, search warrants have been executed across the state, resulting in the arrests of individuals for Possession and/or Distribution of Child Pornography, a violation of the Endangering the Welfare of a Child statute, NJ2C:24-4. Additionally, a large volume of evidence, including computers and other digital media, has been confiscated and will be forensically examined for evidentiary value. This crime constitutes the continued victimization of the children associated with these images and videos.

The NJSP-DTIU is designated by the federal Department of Justice as one of 46 Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC)  Regional Task Forces. The New Jersey ICAC Task Force includes 9 county and 6 local law enforcement agencies throughout New Jersey. The NJ ICAC Task Forces, in addition to investigating crimes against children committed via the Internet, provides technical training to local and county law enforcement and Internet Safety lectures to parents,children, teachers and community groups. Additionally, the NJ ICAC Task Force works in parnership with the 45 other regional ICAC Task Forces, on investigative, legal, training and forensic matters.

Law Enforcement Partners and arrest list on following pages.

Law Enforcement Partners [pdf]

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