Task Force Arrests 40 in N.J. Child Porn Op At least one from every county in the state charged

Hamilton Twp., Mercer County, N.J. – Forty men including at least one from every county in New Jersey have been charged with possession of child pornography, New Jersey Attorney General Christopher Porrino announced today at the State Police Technology Center. The six-month investigation, called Operation Statewide, was a proactive effort coordinated by the New Jersey Regional Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force. 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 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. 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 Porrino. “The message that Operation Statewide delivers to these offenders is clear: It doesn’t matter where you live or whether you think you can hide your crimes by viewing these vile images in the dark seclusion of your home, we’re monitoring you on the Internet, and we will track you down and arrest you.”

“This type of operation is nothing new, yet people continue to ignore the arrests and seek this depraved material regardless of the impact to the children it victimizes, or to society at large,” said Colonel Rick Fuentes, Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police. “It’s widely accepted that a percentage of those obtaining child porn will be involved at some point in the sexual assault of children, so these arrests may actually prevent the abuse of some future victims,” Fuentes added.

Three years ago, Governor Christie signed a bill that strengthened New Jersey’s child pornography laws, bringing them closer in line with federal laws. The new laws include enhanced penalties based upon the number of items of child pornography (images or videos) possessed or distributed. The new law requires a five-year mandatory minimum prison sentence without possibility of parole for defendants convicted of distributing 25 or more items of child pornography. The new law also creates a presumption of imprisonment for defendants convicted of possessing 100 or more items of child pornography, making state prison a near certainty even for some first time offenders charged in this investigation.

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.

State troopers executed a search warrant and arrested John Defay, Jr., 47 of Pitman, Gloucester County, on July 13. A preview of his computer equipment uncovered the largest collection of child pornography found in Operation Statewide. 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. Defay was charged with distribution and possession commensurate with the amount of material he stored or transmitted.

Shawn Bovasso, 47 of Howell, Monmouth County, had over 5,000 files of child pornography at the time of his arrest by detectives on July 15^th. 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.

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.

In addition to the New Jersey State Police, the allied agencies participating in Operation Statewide include:

New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice, who contributed investigators in addition to tremendous legal work on the numerous search and arrest warrants. They are also prosecuting many of the cases.

United States Homeland Security Investigations, both the Newark and Cherry Hill field offices

County Prosecutors’ Offices and Municipalities

Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office

Bayonne Police Department

Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office

Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office

Camden County Prosecutor’s Office

Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office

Cumberland County Prosecutor’s Office

Essex County Prosecutor’s Office

Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office

Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office

Hunterdon County Prosecutor’s Office

Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office

Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office

Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office

Morris County Prosecutor’s Office

Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office

Passaic County Sheriff’s Department

Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office

Salem County Prosecutor’s Office

Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office

Springfield Police Department

Sussex County Prosecutor’s Office

Union County Prosecutor’s Office

Warren County Prosecutor’s Office

The following is a list of those arrested in Operation Statewide. The investigating agency is listed in parenthesis next to each name. Charges are mere accusations and all persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

1. Thomas Colameco (NJSP)

• Age: 24
• Salem, Salem County, NJ
• Search Warrant/Arrest Date: 5/31/2016
• Charges:
  • Distribution of Child Pornography, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4b(5)(a)
  • Possession of Child Pornography, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4b(5)(b) 

2. Adam Farrington (NJSP)

• Age: 37
• Cinnaminson, Burlington County, NJ
• Search Warrant/Arrest Date: 6/7/2016
• Charges:
  • Distribution of Child Pornography, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4b(5)(a)(i); 2C:24-4b(5)(a)(iii)
  • Possession of Child Pornography, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4b(5)(b)

3. John Rudy (NJSP)

• Age: 54
• Flemington, Hunterdon County, NJ
• Search Warrant/Arrest Date: 6/9/2016
• Charges:
  • Distribution of Child Pornography, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4b(5)(a)
  • Possession of Child Pornography, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4b(5)(b)

4. Michael Adams (NJSP)

• Age: 43
• Newark, Essex County, NJ
• Search Warrant/Arrest Date: 7/6/2016
• Charges:
  • Distribution of Child Pornography, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4b(5)(a)
  • Possession of Child Pornography, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4b(5)(b)

5. Jeffrey Mace (NJSP)

• Age: 32
• Arlington, Bergen County, NJ
• Search Warrant/Arrest Date: 7/12/2016
• Charges:
  • Distribution of Child Pornography, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4b(5)(a)
  • Possession of Child Pornography, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4b(5)(b)

6. John Defay, Jr. (NJSP)

• Age: 47
• Pitman Borough, Gloucester County, NJ
• Search Warrant/Arrest Date: 7/13/2016
• Charges:
  • Distribution of Child Pornography, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4b(5)(a)(i); N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4b(5)(a)(iii)
  • Possession of Child Pornography, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4b(5)(b)

7. Shawn Bovasso (NJSP)

• Age: 46
• Howell, Monmouth County, NJ
• Search Warrant/Arrest Date: 7/15/2016
• Charges:
  • Distribution of Child Pornography, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4b(5)(a)
  • Possession of Child Pornography, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4b(5)(b)

8. Fabian Maldonado-Espinosa (NJSP)

• Age: 31
• Lakewood, Ocean County, NJ
• Search Warrant/Arrest Date: 7/20/2016
• Charges:
  • Distribution of Child Pornography, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4b(5)(a)
  • Possession of Child Pornography, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4b(5)(b)

9. Anthony White (NJSP)

• Age: 30
• Lakewood, Ocean County, NJ
• Search Warrant/Arrest Date: 7/20/2016
• Charges:
  • Distribution of Child Pornography, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4b(5)(a)
  • Possession of Child Pornography, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4b(5)(b)

10. Armando Guerrero (NJSP)

• Age: 52
• Milltown, Middlesex County, NJ
• Search Warrant/Arrest Date: 7/21/2016
• Charges:
  • Distribution of Child Pornography, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4b(5)(a)
  • Possession of Child Pornography, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4b(5)(b)

11. Omar Reina (NJSP)

• Age: 41
• Newark, Essex County, NJ
• Search Warrant/Arrest Date: 7/22/2016
• Charges:
  • Distribution of Child Pornography, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4b(5)(a)
  • Possession of Child Pornography, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4b(5)(b)

12. Halil Sahin (Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office)

• Age: 39
• Somerville, Somerset County, NJ
• Search Warrant/Arrest Date: 7/12/2016
• Charges:
  • Distribution of Child Pornography, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4b(5)(a)
  • Possession of Child Pornography, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4b(5)(b)
• Lodged $100,000, cash only bail

13. Kevin Ward Jones (Essex County Prosecutor’s Office)

• Age: 29
• Irvington, Essex County, NJ
• Search Warrant/Arrest Date: 6/22/2016
• Charges:
  • Distribution of Child Pornography, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4b(5)(a)(iii)
  • Possession of Child Pornography, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4b(5)

14. Esau Rios-Osorio (Cumberland County Prosecutor’s Office)

• Age: 27
• Vineland, Cumberland County, NJ
• Search Warrant/Arrest Date: 2/24/2016
• Charges:
  • Distribution of Child Pornography, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4b(5)(a)
  • Possession of Child Pornography, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4b(5)(b)
• Lodged $100,000 cash only bail, still incarcerated.

15. John Yorke (Sussex County Prosecutor’s Office)

• Age 48
• Wantage, Sussex County, NJ
• Search Warrant/Arrest Date: 7/29/2016
• Charges:
  • Distribution of Child Pornography, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4b(5)(a)
  • Possession of Child Pornography, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4b(5)(b)

16. Alfredo Vincente (Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office)

• Age 60
• Edgewater, Bergen County, NJ
  • Search Warrant/Arrest Date: 7-14-2016 / 7-21-2016
• Charges:
  • Distribution of Child Pornography, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4b(5)(a)
  • Possession of Child Pornography, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4b(5)(b)

17. Hector Romero (Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office)

• Age 20
• Clifton, Passaic County, NJ
• Search Warrant/Arrest Date: 5/12/2016
• Charges:
  • Distribution of Child Pornography, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4b(5)(a)
  • Possession of Child Pornography, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4b(5)(b)

18. Jared Allen (Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office)

• Age 27
• Wayne, Passaic County, NJ
• Search Warrant/Arrest Date: 6/16/2016
• Charges:
  • Distribution of Child Pornography, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4b(5)(a)
  • Possession of Child Pornography, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4b(5)(b)

19. Michael Devlin (Union County Prosecutor’s Office)

• Age 62
• Cranford, Union County, NJ
• Search Warrant/Arrest Date: 7/12/2016
• Charges:
  • Possession of Child Pornography, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4b(5)(b)

20. Adolfo Reyes-Aguayo (Hunterdon County Prosecutor’s Office)

• Age 38
• Flemington, Hunterdon County, NJ
• Search Warrant/Arrest Date: 7/7/2016
• Charges:
  • Distribution of Child Pornography, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4b(5)(a)
  • Possession of Child Pornography, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4b(5)(b)
• Bail $100,000, no 10%. No contact with children upon release.

21. Abeer Jaffri (NJ DCJ)

• Age 24
• Morganville, Monmouth County, NJ
• Search Warrant/Arrest Date: 5/31/2016
• Charges:
  • Distribution of Child Pornography, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4b(5)(a)
  • Possession of Child Pornography, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4b(5)(b)

22. Enrique Estremadoyro Vergara (NJ DCJ)

• Age 34
• Harrison, Hudson County, NJ
• Search Warrant/Arrest Date: 6/3/2016
• Charges:
  • Distribution of Child Pornography, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4b(5)(a)
  • Possession of Child Pornography, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4b(5)(b)

23. Edward C. Friedman (Sussex County Prosecutor’s Office)

• Age 60
• Montague, Sussex County, NJ
• Search Warrant/Arrest Date: 6/3/2016
• Charges:
  • Distribution of Child Pornography, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4b(5)(a)
  • Possession of Child Pornography, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4b(5)(b)
  • Possession of Marijuana over fifty (50) grams, N.J.S.A. 2C:35-10a(3)
• Bail $75,000, no 10%

24. Michael J. Boda (NJSP)

• Age 24
• Phillipsburg, Warren County, NJ
• Search Warrant/Arrest Date: 3/21/2016
• Charges:
  • Distribution of Child Pornography, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4b(5)(a)
  • Possession of Child Pornography, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4b(5)(b)

25. Justin Piccola (Morris County Prosecutor’s Office)

• Age 21
• Randolph, Morris County, NJ
• Search Warrant/Arrest Date: 4/8/2016
• Charges:
  • Distribution of Child Pornography, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4b(5)(a)(iii)
  • Possession of Child Pornography, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4b(5)(b)

26. Devin McMenamy (Springfield Police Department – Union County)

• Age 30
• Springfield, Union County, NJ
• Search Warrant/Arrest Date: 7/26/2016
• Charges:
  • Possession of Child Pornography, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4b(5)(b)

27. Robert H. Magrann (Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office)

• Age 51
• Maple Shade, Burlington County, NJ
• Search Warrant/Arrest Date: 6/30/2016
• Charges:
  • Distribution of Child Pornography, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4b(5)(a)
  • Possession of Child Pornography, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4b(5)(b)

28. Nicholas Puppo (Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office)

• Age 40
• Bordentown City, Burlington County, NJ
• Search Warrant/Arrest Date: 6/8/2016
• Charges:
  • Distribution of Child Pornography, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4b(5)(a)
  • Possession of Child Pornography, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4b(5)(b)

29. Robert Cohen (Camden County Prosecutor’s Office)

• Age 20
• Magnolia, Camden County, NJ
• Search Warrant/Arrest Date: 5/20/2016
• Charges:
  • Distribution of Child Pornography, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4b(5)(a)
  • Possession of Child Pornography, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4b(5)(b)

30. Roy Donald (Camden County Prosecutor’s Office)

• Age 58
• Pennsauken, Camden County, NJ
• Search Warrant/Arrest Date: 6/3/2016
• Charges:
  • Distribution of Child Pornography, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4b(5)(a)
  • Possession of Child Pornography, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4b(5)(b)

31. Michael Kushner (Camden County Prosecutor’s Office)

• Age 42
• Cherry Hill, Camden County, NJ
• Search Warrant/Arrest Date: 6/9/2016
• Charges:
  • Distribution of Child Pornography, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4b(5)(a)
  • Possession of Child Pornography, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4b(5)(b)

32. Christopher Campi (Camden County Prosecutor’s Office)

• Age 48
• Gloucester City, Camden County, NJ
• Search Warrant/Arrest Date: 7/6/2016
• Charges:
  • Distribution of Child Pornography, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4b(5)(a)
  • Possession of Child Pornography, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4b(5)(b)

33. Alfred Suez (Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office)

• Age 72
• North Wildwood, Cape May County, NJ
• Search Warrant/Arrest Date: 4/22/2016
• Charges:
  • Possession of Child Pornography, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4b(5)(b)

34. Lawrence J. Venturino, Jr. (Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office)

• Age 27
• Villas, Cape May County, NJ
• Search Warrant/Arrest Date: 5/13/2016
• Charges:
  • Distribution of Child Pornography, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4b(5)(a)
  • Possession of Child Pornography, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4b(5)(b)
• Bail set at $100,000

35. Antonio DeLapa (Bayonne Police Department)

• Age 68
• Bayonne, Hudson County, NJ
• Search Warrant/Arrest Date: 7/18/2016
• Charges:
  • Distribution of Child Pornography, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4b(5)(a)
  • Possession of Child Pornography, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4b(5)(b)

36. Moises Garcia (Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office)

• Age 21
• Carteret, Middlesex County, NJ
• Search Warrant/Arrest Date: 7/14/2016
• Charges:
  • Distribution of Child Pornography, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4b(5)(a)
  • Possession of Child Pornography, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4b(5)(b)

37. Gregg Bilarczyk (Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office)

• Age 58
• Mays Landing, Atlantic County, NJ
• Search Warrant/Arrest Date: 6/2/2016
• Charges:
  • Distribution of Child Pornography, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4b(5)(a)
  • Possession of Child Pornography, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4b(5)(b)

38. Randy G. Hull (Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office)

• Age 43
• South Toms River, Ocean County, NJ
• Search Warrant/Arrest Date: 8/10/2016
• Charges:
  • Distribution of Child Pornography, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4b(5)(a)
  • Possession of Child Pornography, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4b(5)(b)
• Bail $75,000 no 10% with no contact with children.

39. Brandon Adelhock (Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office)

• Age 30
• Toms River, Ocean County, NJ
• Search Warrant/Arrest Date: 8/9/2016
• Charges:
  • Distribution of Child Pornography, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4b(5)(a)
  • Possession of Child Pornography, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4b(5)(b)
• Bail $20,000 no 10%.

40. Bruce Davis (NJSP)

• Age: 55
• Whiting, Ocean County, NJ (formerly of Ewing, Mercer County. Davis was charged for occurrences in both counties)
• Search Warrant/Arrest Date: 8/15/2016
• Charges:
  • Distribution of Child Pornography, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4b(5)(a)
  • Possession of Child Pornography, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4b(5)(b)