Attorney General Christopher S. Porrino announced that a Bergen County man was sentenced to prison today for distributing Explicit Images of Minors on the Internet. He was arrested in “Operation Ever Vigilant,” a Explicit Images of Minors sweep conducted in 2013 by the New Jersey State Police, the Division of Criminal Justice, the New Jersey Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and federal partners.
Louis Cedeno, 50, of Palisades Park, was sentenced to three years in state prison by Superior Court Judge Frances McGrogan in Bergen County. He pleaded guilty last year to a charge of second-degree distribution of Explicit Images of Minors. He will be required to register as a sex offender under Megan’s Law.
In pleading guilty, Cedeno admitted that he knowingly used file-sharing software to make multiple files of Explicit Images of Minors readily available for any other user to download from a designated “shared folder” on his computer.
A forensic examination of computer equipment seized from him in Operation Ever Vigilant revealed numerous images and videos of Explicit Images of Minors.
Deputy Attorney General Joseph Remy prosecuted Cedeno and handled the sentencing for the Division of Criminal Justice Financial & Computer Crimes Bureau. Cedeno was charged in 2013, before Governor Christie signed New Jersey’s tough new Explicit Images of Minors law, which substantially enhanced the penalties for those who possess, distribute or manufacture Explicit Images of Minors.
Cedeno became a target of Operation Ever Vigilant after a detective in the New Jersey State Police Digital Technology Investigations Unit (DTIU) downloaded two videos of Explicit Images of Minors from a shared folder on his computer while monitoring a file-sharing network popular with sex offenders. The computer address from which the videos were downloaded was traced to Cedeno’s residence.
When members of the State Police DTIU, the State Police TEAMS South Unit and the New Jersey Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force executed a search warrant at Cedeno’s residence on February 18, 2013, a forensic preview of his computer equipment revealed approximately 60 images and videos of Explicit Images of Minors. A full forensic examination of his personal computer revealed further evidence that he used file-sharing software to offer Explicit Images of Minors for distribution.
Operation Ever Vigilant was a three-month investigation conducted by the State Police Digital Technology Investigations Unit (DTIU), the Division of Criminal Justice, other members of the New Jersey Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, and federal agents from the U.S. Postal Service. It resulted in arrests of 24 men and one juvenile male.
Attorney General Porrino and Director Honig urged anyone who has information about the distribution of Explicit Images of Minors on the Internet or who suspects improper contact by unknown persons communicating with children via the Internet or possible exploitation or sexual abuse of children to contact the New Jersey Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Tipline at 888-648-6007.