NATIONWIDE -- Seventy-six people across 8 states including North Carolina are now facing charges for possessing and distributing child pornography.

Thirteen children were rescued during the massive operation involving 9 internet crimes against children task forces.

This began four months ago with 2 days of search warrants, under cover operations and arrests in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia.

The people arrested range in age from 17 to 73.

More than 1,200 devices were confiscated.