Attorney General Dennis C. Vacco, Nassau County District Attorney Denis Dillon and State Police Supt. James W. McMahon today announced the arrest of an East Meadow man in connection with a major crackdown against traffickers of vile child pornography on the Internet.

"Young children are being forever robbed of their precious innocence in order to feed the depraved appetites of those who crave this smut," Vacco said in announcing the latest arrest stemming from his "Operation Rip Cord."

The defendant, allegedly transmitted child pornography images to more than five dozen America Online subscribers last July from his home computer.

"I applaud Attorney General Vacco's attack on the cyber-monsters that plague the Internet, exploiting our youngsters for their own sexual gratification," said Superintendent McMahon. "The vigilance of investigators from both the New York State Police and the Attorney General's office is commendable as these vile criminals are being identified, located and prosecuted for their web crimes."

After the defendant allegedly transmitted a flood of child pornography to other AOL subscribers, as part of Vacco's proactive investigation, an undercover "Rip Cord" investigator struck up an e-mail dialogue with him and requested additional photographs. The defendant allegedly then transmitted nine child pornography photographs to the investigator.

"The images uncovered in the East Meadow case were among the most disturbing that we have seen since I commenced 'Operation Rip Cord' two years ago," Vacco said.

"I greatly appreciate the tremendous assistance and cooperation my Internet Crime Unit has received from Superintendent McMahon throughout this ongoing investigation," Vacco said. "I also wish to express my appreciation for the assistance we received from the Nassau County Police Department. Through our coordinated efforts, we are sending a clear message that serious consequences await those who promote child pornography."

The defendant was charged with seven counts of first-degree Promoting a Sexual Performance of a Child, a Class D felony, which carries a maximum penalty of seven years in state prison. He also was charged with seven counts of possession of child pornography, an E felony, which carries a maximum penalty of three years in prison.

Defendants who are convicted of trafficking in child pornography over the Internet also face "Megan's Law" registration for at least 10 years. Investigators, armed with a search warrant, seized the defendant's home computer this morning, and the investigation will continue to determine whether additional charges are warranted.

"Those who trade in these graphic images create and perpetuate the demand for child pornography, one of the vilest forms of child abuse," said Vacco.

"Operation Rip Cord," initiated by Vacco in 1996, is credited with being the nation's largest and most successful on-line child porn investigation. The defendant is the 37th person to be charged in New York in connection with the ongoing offensive against child sexual exploitation.

The investigation has identified hundreds of individuals suspected of transmitting child pornography, resulting in dozens of prosecution referrals to other law enforcement agencies across the US and abroad, said Vacco, the chairman of a nationwide task force set up to combat child porn.

The defendant was scheduled to be arraigned on the charges last week in 1st District Court in Hempstead.

The case is being handled by Assistant Attorneys General Carl Copertino and Paul McCarthy of Attorney General Vacco's Criminal Division.

The charge against the defendant is an accusation, and he is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.