Those charged were from Somers Point, Woodbine, Pitman and Vorhees
OCEAN CITY — The Ocean City Police Department and multiple other agencies carried out a two-day operation in the resort to fight child sexual exploitation that resulted in the arrest of four men, including one from Somers Point.
OCPD Chief William Campbell and Cape May County Prosecutor Jeffrey H. Sutherland made the announcement this week, saying it was the conclusion of “a coordinated effort to combat child sexual exploitation and ensure the safety of our community’s most vulnerable members.”
Operation “Blank Space,” which also resulted in the disruption of illicit activities, they said, was led by the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crimes Unit, the New Jersey Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, the Ocean City Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and was assisted by other state and local agencies.
Campbell and Sutherland reported the investigation was complicated and intensive and required the collaboration “to identify and target individuals engaged in the exploitation of children. The operation employed a multifaceted approach, leveraging advanced technology, forensic analysis and undercover techniques to apprehend those allegedly involved in child sex exploitation networks that create and distribute Child Sexual Abuse Materials (“CSAM”).”
Campbell and Sutherland said investigators “worked tirelessly to ascertain the identities of individuals exploiting children through online platforms, grooming them for illicit activities and sharing harmful CSAM content.”
William B. Peraria, 66, of the 1200 block of Massachusetts Avenue in Somers Point, was charged with attempted sexual assault (second degree); endangering the welfare of a child (third degree); attempted obscenity (fourth degree).
Jeffrey K. Dragon, 37, of the 400 block Poinsette Avenue in Pitman, was charged with endangering the welfare of a child (second degree); attempted sexual assault (second degree); attempted luring (third degree); and attempted obscenity (third degree).
Marc Anthony Carroll, 34, of the 2100 block of Hamilton Drive in Voorhees, was charged with attempted luring (second degree); endangering the welfare of a child (third degree); and attempted criminal sexual contact (fourth degree).
Kristofer Laud, 38, of the 1500 block of Weatherby Road in Woodbine, was charged with endangering the welfare of a child (third degree).
“As technology advances, so do the illicit activities of those among us who exploit children to satisfy their own depraved sexual needs and for economic gain. Without the talented and dedicated members of our office and our partner agencies, we would not be able to shut down these operations and remove these dangerous people from our community. Always be cognizant about what you share and what your children are doing on electronic devices and on the various social media platforms,” Sutherland said in the press release.
Participating agencies included the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office, Cumberland County Prosecutor’s Office, Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office, Avalon Police Department, Cape May City Police Department,
Cape May County Sheriff’s Department, Middle Township Police Department, Ocean City Police Department, Voorhees Police Department, Homeland Security Investigation (Atlantic City), New Jersey State Police and New Jersey State Police Internet Crimes Against Children.
Campbell and Sutherland urged the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities involving the exploitation of children.
Reports can be made by calling the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office at (609) 465-1135 or anonymously on the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office website at cmcpo.tips or through the Cape May County Sheriff’s Tip Line at cmcsheriff.net and click on anonymous tip, or to the Cape May County Crime Stoppers at (609) 889-3597.
– STORY by DAVID NAHAN/Sentinel staff
