Fifteen New Jersey residents, including a 70 year old retired Presbyterian minister, were busted yesterday as the feds smashed an international kiddie-porn ring based in Belarus.
The 15, who were charged with downloading child pornography, also included a doctor, three previously convicted sex offenders, a teacher, a former campus minister, a bank employee and an 85 year old retired engineer. The suspects used credit cards to buy subscriptions to porn Web sites from Regpay, a Belarus company that sold memberships in 50 sites, including four it operated. The 15 New Jersey men arrested face up to 10 to 20 years in prison and a $20,000 fine. All were released on $100,000 bond with the exception of Edward Napier, a 70 year old retired Presbyterian pastor, whose bail was pending.
Other defendants included, Lee Matthews, a 48 year old teacher at a New Jersey girls' Catholic school, faces child-pornography charges after federal agents accused him of downloading more than 100 images of children onto his personal computer. Matthews is a campus minister and drama instructor at Mount Saint Mary Academy in Watchung. He was charged in U.S. District Court in Newark and faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted.
Eugene Valentine, a 38 year old CEO of Connections USA, pleaded guilty on January 14 to laundering money for Regpay and is cooperating with investigators.
(New Jersey)