40 From 37 N.J. Towns Busted In Statewide N.J. Child Porn Ring

Forty people from 37 towns in all 21 N.J. counties — including current and former school employees — were nabbed in a statewide child porn ring this week, according to authorities.

Of the 40 arrested, 37 have been charged with distribution of these images as well as possession. A number of seized computers each had more than 1,000 juvenile pornographic images and videos stored on them; one had more than 76,000 files, the State Police announced Thursday.

Members of the N.J. Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force say at least one person has been charged in each of New Jersey's 21 counties as part of "Operation Statewide."

The 40 suspects face charges such as possession of child pornography and distribution of images and videos depicting children engaged in sexual activities.

The Operation Statewide law enforcement team, led by New Jersey State Police detectives, followed the digital fingerprint of known images of child porn as they were being sent and received over file sharing networks to specific computers, according to a release from the State Police.

Internet addresses were traced to street addresses and detectives from partnering agencies knocked on the doors of many surprised defendants, one of whom was in the process of downloading child porn images.

“These offenders, by their actions, contribute in a very real and direct way to the cruel exploitation of innocent children, and that is why we remain tireless in our efforts to protect children by locking up these criminals,” said Attorney General Christopher Porrino.

Twenty of those arrested have already been charged with possession of 100 or more items based on on-site forensic previews of computer media. Those defendants, should they be convicted, will be subject to that statutory presumption of imprisonment.

Nine men were so far charged with distributing 25 or more images based on the same previews. They could be facing a mandatory minimum of five years without parole in state prison if convicted, and thorough forensic examinations of seized media could place more defendants in this category, police said.

Those arrested were from 20 to 72 years old. The defendants include a former teacher who taught in Delran, Bristol Twp., Pa., and Philadelphia; factory workers; an accountant; computer professionals; construction workers; salesmen; food service workers; and a custodian in the Long Branch School District. A large percentage are unemployed and two men are undocumented non-citizens.

The following is a list of those arrested in Operation Statewide:

• Thomas Colameco, 24, Salem, Salem County; charges: Distribution of Child Pornography, Possession of Child Pornography
• Adam Farrington, 37, Cinnaminson, Burlington County, charges: Distribution of Child Pornography, Possession of Child Pornography
• John Rudy, 54, Flemington, Hunterdon County; charges: Distribution of Child Pornography, Possession of Child Pornography
• Michael Adams, 43, Newark, Essex County; charges: Distribution of Child Pornography, Possession of Child Pornography
• Jeffrey Mace, 32, Arlington, Bergen County; charges: Distribution of Child Pornography, Possession of Child Pornography
• John Defay, Jr., 47, Pitman Borough, Gloucester County; charges: Distribution of Child Pornography, Possession of Child Pornography
• Shawn Bovasso, 46, Howell, Monmouth County; charges: Distribution of Child Pornography, Possession of Child Pornography
• Fabian Maldonado-Espinosa, 31, Lakewood, Ocean County; charges: Distribution of Child Pornography, Possession of Child Pornography
• Anthony White, 30, Lakewood, Ocean County; charges: Distribution of Child Pornography, Possession of Child Pornography
• Armando Guerrero, 52, Milltown, Middlesex County; charges: Distribution of Child Pornography, Possession of Child Pornography
• Omar Reina, 41, Newark, Essex County; charges: Distribution of Child Pornography, Possession of Child Pornography
• Halil Sahin, 39, Somerville, Somerset County; charges: Distribution of Child Pornography, Possession of Child Pornography
• Kevin Ward Jones, 29, Irvington, Essex County; charges: Distribution of Child Pornography, Possession of Child Pornography
• Esau Rios-Osorio, 27, Vineland, Cumberland County; charges: Distribution of Child Pornography, Possession of Child Pornography
• John Yorke, 48, Wantage, Sussex County; charges: Distribution of Child Pornography, Possession of Child Pornography
• Alfredo Vincente, 60, Edgewater, Bergen County; charges: Distribution of Child Pornography, Possession of Child Pornography
• Hector Romero, 20, Clifton, Passaic County; charges: Distribution of Child Pornography, Possession of Child Pornography
• Jared Allen, 27, Wayne, Passaic County; charges: Distribution of Child Pornography, Possession of Child Pornography
• Michael Devlin, 62, Cranford, Union County; charges: Possession of Child Pornography
• Adolfo Reyes-Aguayo, 38, Flemington, Hunterdon County; charges: Distribution of Child Pornography, Possession of Child Pornography
• Abeer Jaffri, 24, Marlboro, Monmouth County; charges: Distribution of Child Pornography, Possession of Child Pornography
• Enrique Estremadoyro Vergara, 34, Harrison, Hudson County; charges: Distribution of Child Pornography, Possession of Child Pornography
• Edward C. Friedman, 60, Montague, Sussex County; charges: Distribution of Child Pornography, Possession of Child Pornography, Possession of Marijuana over 50 grams
• Michael J. Boda, 24, Phillipsburg, Warren County; charges: Distribution of Child Pornography, Possession of Child Pornography
• Justin Piccola, 21, Randolph, Morris County; charges: Distribution of Child Pornography, Possession of Child Pornography
• Devin McMenamy, 30, Springfield, Union County; charges: Possession of Child Pornography
• Robert H. Magrann, 51, Maple Shade, Burlington County; charges: Distribution of Child Pornography, Possession of Child Pornography
• Nicholas Puppo, 40, Bordentown City, Burlington County; charges: Distribution of Child Pornography, Possession of Child Pornography
• Robert Cohen, 20, Magnolia, Camden County; charges: Distribution of Child Pornography, Possession of Child Pornography
• Roy Donald, 58, Pennsauken, Camden County; charges: Distribution of Child Pornography, Possession of Child Pornography
• Michael Kushner, 42, Cherry Hill, Camden County; charges: Distribution of Child Pornography, Possession of Child Pornography
• Christopher Campi, 48, Gloucester City, Camden County; charges: Distribution of Child Pornography, Possession of Child Pornography
• Alfred Suez, 72, North Wildwood, Cape May County; charges: Possession of Child Pornography
• Lawrence J. Venturino, Jr., 27, Villas, Cape May County; charges: Distribution of Child Pornography, Possession of Child Pornography
• Antonio DeLapa, 68, Bayonne, Hudson County; charges: Distribution of Child Pornography, Possession of Child Pornography
• Moises Garcia, 21, Carteret, Middlesex County; charges: Distribution of Child Pornography, Possession of Child Pornography
• Gregg Bilarczyk, 58, Mays Landing, Atlantic County; charges: Distribution of Child Pornography, Possession of Child Pornography
• Randy G. Hull, 43, South Toms River, Ocean County; charges: Distribution of Child Pornography, Possession of Child Pornography
• Brandon Adelhock, 30, Toms River, Ocean County; charges: Distribution of Child Pornography, Possession of Child Pornography
• Bruce Davis, 55, Manchester, Ocean County,; charges: Distribution of Child Pornography, Possession of Child Pornography

During the investigation, when state troopers executed a search warrant and arrested Defay on July 13, a preview of his computer equipment uncovered the largest collection of child pornography found in Operation Statewide, police said.

Detectives found more than 76,000 files with a complete backup system, which doubled the files in his possession. A large number of these were video files. This speaks to the amount of this material available on the web.

Bovasso, meanwhile, had more than 5,000 files of child pornography at the time of his arrest by detectives on July 15. Troopers also found and seized two assault weapons from his residence. The assault weapons are being examined by firearms to determine if charges are appropriate.