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HAMILTON, N.J. (AP) — Forty men, including a former teacher and a school custodian, were charged Thursday with child pornography possession charges following a sweep that led to arrests in all 21 New Jersey counties, authorities said. Operation Statewide was a six-month investigation that included scanning internet traffic to determine who was sharing and downloading the files across the state. The suspects, who range in age from 20 to 72, include a former teacher who taught in Delran, Philadelphia and Bristol Township, Pennsylvania. They also included an accountant, computer professionals and construction workers. "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 Col. Rick Fuentes, superintendent of the New Jersey State Police. Of the 40 arrested, 37 were charged with distribution of the 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, state police said. New Jersey strengthened its child pornography laws three years ago to include enhanced penalties based on the number of images of child pornography possessed or distributed. The law requires a five-year mandatory minimum prison sentence without possibility of parole for defendants convicted of distributing 25 or more items. "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," Attorney General Christopher Porrino said.

Ex-teacher among 40 in New Jersey facing child porn charges