NORTHEAST, PA — Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen G. Kane has announced that the her Child Predator Section, in partnership with several law enforcement agencies, has arrested 16 suspected child predators over the past two weeks in Northeast PA.

“I appreciate the work of our Child Predator Section and the law enforcement agents from the Lackawanna County DA’s office, the Pennsylvania State Police, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Scranton, Dunmore and Carbondale police departments,” Kane said. “We deliver on our promise to track, flush out and prosecute criminals who hurt our kids.”

In the last two weeks, these law enforcement agencies dispatched agents across Northeast PA as part of an ongoing investigation into the online sharing of child pornography and online advertisements relating to the sexual exploitation of children.

Those arrested include Richard Adames of Pike County, who is charged with one count of distribution of child pornography.

In Wayne County, Jason Verrastro was charged with one count of distribution of child pornography and 20 counts of possession of child pornography.