An elementary school teacher, a school bus driver and a high school student are among 16 people facing child pornography charges in New Jersey, authorities announced Wednesday.
They were arrested between February and March in “Operation Safeguard,” a state and federal probe that targeted suspects using online file-sharing networks to distribute child pornography, including videos of young children being raped.
One of the suspects, Thomas Guzzi Jr., 36, of Pitman, is a teacher and drama club adviser at the Winslow Elementary School in Vineland. He is accused of possessing 100 or more files and has been suspended from his job. The Associated Press was unable to obtain a telephone number to determine if he has hired a lawyer who can comment on the accusation.
Investigators said they searched for digital "fingerprints" of known child pornography, and searched terms used by those who download and share child pornography. As a result of the investigation they found New Jersey residents who were downloading child pornography and making it available through shared computer folders, officials said.
All 16 defendants were charged with second-degree distribution of child pornography, which carries a sentence of five to 10 years in state prison, and third-degree possession of child pornography, which carries a sentence of three to five years in prison.
Aside from Guzzi Jr, who was arrested on February 19, the following people were charged:
1. Eugene Triston, 55, of Stanhope: A bus driver in the Sparta School District. Arrested Feb. 10. Bail, $50,000. Charged with distribution of 25 or more files of child pornography.
2. Male Juvenile, 17, of Kearny. Arrested March 15. Released with ankle monitor. Charged with selling child pornography, possession of 100 or more files of child pornography, and distribution of 25 or more files of child pornography.
3. Shaun Dooley, 46, of Summit: A Senior IT officer for an insurance company. Arrested March 9. Bail, $75,000. Charged with possession of 100 or more files of child pornography.
4. Andres Tejada-Diaz, 42, of Kearny. Arrested March 3. Bail, $100,000. Charged with possession of 100 or more files of child pornography and distribution of 25 or more files.
5. John Wilms, 46, of Mount Holly: A driver for parcel delivery service. Arrested Feb. 25. Bail, $100,000. Charged with distributing 25 or more files of child pornography for files allegedly found in a shared folder on his computer, including many videos involving infants.
6. Robert Kunert, 22, of Hamilton, Mercer County: A supermarket employee. Arrested March 31. Bail, $52,000. He allegedly possessed approximately 298 files of child pornography in a shared folder on his computer. Charged with possession of 100 or more files of child pornography and distribution of 25 or more files of child pornography.
7. Matthew Dieterman, 32, of Piscataway: A public employee who works for Somerset County in county garage. Arrested March 4. Bail, $50,000. Charged with possession of 100 or more files of child pornography and distribution of 25 or more files of child pornography.
8. Oziel Hernandez Sandoval, 27, of Piscataway. Arrested March 29. Bail, $75,000. A forensic preview revealed approximately 225 files of child pornography in a shared folder on his computer. Charged with possession of 100 or more files of child pornography and distribution of 25 or more files of child pornography.
9. Bernard Rapp, 72, of Southampton. Retired. Arrested Feb. 24. Bail, $75,000. Charged with possession of 100 or more files of child pornography.
10. Germin Simon, 34, of South Plainfield: A self-employed computer repair technician under name “The Computer Man.” Arrested March 17. Bail, $100,000.
11. William Morgan, 59, of Manalapan. Unemployed. Arrested March 24. Bail, $150,000.
12. Christian Martinez-Gonzalez, 34, of East Windsor: A factory worker. Arrested March 7. Bail, $50,000.
13. Brandon Weiss, 42, of Burlington Township: A line worker for label printing company. Arrested Feb. 23. Bail, $100,000.
14. Armando Gonzalez-Longorio, 70, of Elizabeth: Works for employment agency. Arrested Feb. 18. Bail, $100,000.
15. Dimas Zuniga, 44, of Roselle. Employment unknown. Arrested March 22. Bail, $50,000.
