KID-PORN RING (Minister, doc among 15 nabbed in Jersey)

New York Post/Neil Graves and Andy Geller

Fifteen New Jersey residents, including a 70 year old retired Presbyterian minister, were bustedyesterday 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, threepreviously convicted sex offenders, a teacher, a former campus minister, a bank employee and an 85year old retired engineer. The suspects used credit cards to buy subscriptions to porn Web sitesfrom Regpay, a Belarus company that sold memberships in 50 sites, including four it operated. The15 New Jersey men arrested face up to 10 to 20 years in prison and a $20,000 fine. All werereleased on $100,000 bond with the exception of Edward Napier, a 70 year old retired Presbyterianpastor, whose bail was pending.

Other defendants included, Lee Matthews, a 48 year old teacher at a New Jersey girls' Catholicschool, faces child-pornography charges after federal agents accused him of downloading more than100 images of children onto his personal computer. Matthews is a campus minister and dramainstructor at Mount Saint Mary Academy in Watchung. He was charged in U.S. District Court in Newarkand faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted.

Eugene Valentine, a 38 year old CEO of Connections USA, pleaded guilty on January 14 tolaundering money for Regpay and is cooperating with investigators.

(New Jersey)