A man from Palisades Park NJ was recently sentenced to three years in prison for illegally distributing images of child pornography on the Internet.

The suspect is a 50-year-old resident of Palisades Park, New Jersey. He was placed under arrest four years ago at the conclusion of a major law enforcement investigation called “Operation Ever Vigilant.” The criminal investigation was led by the NJ Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and the NJ Division of Criminal Justice and targeted people suspected of distributing child pornography in the State of New Jersey.

NJ task force detectives reportedly discovered 60 images and videos of illicit sexual acts involving minors on the suspect’s computer. Forensic investigators also reportedly discovered evidence that the suspect had been using software to share the sexual images with other people over the Internet.

The suspect did not go to trial in the case because he reached a plea deal with NJ prosecutors. He pleaded guilty to second degree distribution of child pornography charges.

If the suspect had contested the criminal charges and stood trial, he would have faced a potential penalty of up to 10 years in prison for a second degree criminal conviction. Instead, by pleading guilty, the suspect got prosecutors to agree to recommend that he be sentenced to just three years behind bars.

The plea agreement and prison sentence were announced by NJ Attorney General Christopher Porrino and NJ Division of Criminal Justice Director Elie Honig. Honig stated that law enforcement officials in New Jersey will be doing everything possible to “disrupt” the online market for images and videos of child pornography “by infiltrating it and aggressively prosecuting these offenders.”

For more information about this case, read the Teaneck Patch article, “Bergen Co. Man Sentenced to 3 Years for Distributing Kiddie Porn.”