NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Nearly a third of the 56 people arrested last week on child pornography charges were in Berkshire County. 

 

The arrests were part of "Operation Firewall," a months-long collaborative investigation that resulted in the arrests made over three days in 38 communities. 

 

"Operation Firewall was created to address the growing problem of possession, production and sharing of child sexual abuse material, which is more commonly known as child pornography," said State Police Lt. Col. Daniel Tucker. "This coordinated enforcement also targeted child enticement and other illegal activities in which children are victimized."

 

Speaking a press conference at State Police Headquarters in Framingham on Monday afternoon, Tucker said the suspects ranged in age from 18 to 75 and included one woman.

 

"The Massachusetts State Police, along with our partners, made 56 total arrests, seized 229 devices from suspects, and executed 34 residential search warrants across every part of the state," he said. "Of those 56 arrests, 25 of them were for possession of child pornography, and 19 people were charged with enticing a child after communicating with an undercover law enforcement officer."

 

Arrested in the Berkshires were: 

 

Berkshire District Attorney Timothy Shugrue noted he had started his prosecutorial career working child abuse cases and was a founder of Berkshire County Kids Place, and continued that work on being elected three years ago. The Berkshire task force has arrested and prosecuted 19 perpetrators before last week's arrests.