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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.
ICAC
Task Force Members & Non-Members
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