'Operation Firewall' Nabs Several in Norfolk County

Earlier this month, the Massachusetts State Police announced the results of Operation Firewall, a three-day, statewide operation. Developed by the State Police’s Division of Investigative Services, the Operation addresses the growing problem of possession, production, and sharing of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), as well as child enticement and other illegal activity.

Over the course of three days, Operation Firewall resulted in arrests across 38 Massachusetts communities. Troopers executed 34 residential search warrants, seized 229 devices, and arrested 56 individuals ranging in age from 18 to 75. The defendants will face charges connected to child pornography, child enticement, as well as charges stemming from outstanding warrants for assault and battery of a child, rape of a child, and failure to register with the Sex Offender Registry Board.

The
Norfolk County suspects charged after investigations by MSP Detective
Unit assigned to the Norfolk DA’s Office who are members of the
Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force are:

Alexander
J. Ventura, 28, of Quincy. He faces charges in Quincy District Court
on charges of possession of child pornography and distributing
material of a child in a sexual act. He is being held at the Norfolk
County Correctional Center on an unrelated matter in another court.

Michael
P. Stack, 22, of Milton, will be summons to court on a charge of
possession of child pornography. He is scheduled for arraignment on
Dec. 3 in Quincy District Court.

The
MSP Cyber Crimes Unit arrested William E. McNeil, 24, of Foxboro.

McNeil
was arraigned in Wrentham District Court on Nov. 4 on charges of
possession of child pornography and distributing material of a child
in a sexual act. He was released on his own recognizance with
conditions. The conditions are no unsupervised contact with children
18 or younger and no work or volunteer activities involving children
18 or younger. He cannot leave Massachusetts. He cannot use social
media and must register his electronic devices with the probation
department. He must allow the probation department to search the
devices while his case is pending.

“Trooper-Investigators worked cross functionally over several weeks to develop Operation Firewall with the goal of making Massachusetts safer for our kids and their families,” said Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Tucker. “The Operation epitomizes the community safety objectives of the Department’s Excellence Initiative and illustrates the power of working together on behalf of our most vulnerable residents.”

Operation Firewall relied on the skill and technical expertise of several State Police Units, including the Cyber Crime Unit, the High Risk Victims Unit, the State Police Detective Units within each District Attorney’s Office, the Special Tactical Operations Team (STOP Team), and the Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section. With the support of uniformed Troopers and Local Officers in the field, police executed dozens of residential search warrants, sting operations, and outstanding warrant arrests.

Many child pornography investigations stem from the growing number of Cyber Tips the Department receives from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) regarding suspicious activity online. Under federal law (United States Code Title 18, Chapter 110, § 2258A), electronic service providers are required to submit a Cyber Tip Line Report with NCMEC when they recognize dangerous behavior. Troopers assigned to the Cyber Crime Unit within Division of Investigative Services review Cyber Tips to determine if the associated content violates Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 272 § 29C (Possession of Child Pornography) and requires further investigation.

Since 2020, the number of Cyber Tips received by State Police has increased more than 270%. Last week alone, NCMEC reported 1,074 cyber tips for further investigation by the Cyber Crime Unit.

Troopers also coordinate investigations through the Massachusetts Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC), one of more 60 coordinated task forces across the country dedicated to investigating, prosecuting and developing effective responses to internet crimes against children. ICAC Task Force agencies are engaged in both proactive and reactive investigations, forensic examinations, and criminal prosecutions. By helping state and local agencies develop effective, sustainable responses to online child victimization, including responses to child sexual abuse images, the ICAC Program has increased law enforcement's capacity to combat technology facilitated crimes against children at every level.

In addition to child pornography offenses, Troopers assigned to the High Risk Victims Unit and Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section conducted missions as part of Operation Firewall to pursue and apprehend criminals who commit or attempt to commit a variety of sexual offenses with children, including contact, enticement, trafficking, and aggravated rape.

The State Police urge anyone with information regarding the exploitation of children anywhere is urged to report it to police by calling 911.