New Jersey ? More than three dozen people in New Jersey have been charged with sending child rape photos and videos over the Internet, officials said Thursday.

The arrests cap a two-month investigation in which a state police technology investigations unit combed the Internet for New Jerseyans who distributed such images. Forty-one people were arrested.

The investigation, dubbed Operation Silent Shield, encompassed 15 of New Jersey’s 21 counties and numerous law enforcement agencies. The arrests began 10 days ago and continued through Thursday, state police said.

The 41 people, who range in age from 14 to 71, were charged with child pornography possession and distribution and face 18 months to 10 years in jail.