Post by thecleaninglady on Oct 19, 2006 8:23:24 GMT -5
CNN) -- Federal officials arrested more than 125 people Wednesday on charges of subscribing to a Web site that depicted children as young as infants engaged in sexual activities with adults.
"Today, we are taking steps against child pornography," U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie told reporters in Newark.
Fourteen of the suspects appeared Wednesday afternoon before a magistrate judge in Newark.
The arrests stem from Operation Emissary, which immigration and customs officials launched in New Jersey and extended to more than 21 other states.
It focused on a Web site that offered subscribers access to child porn videos and pictures, Christie and Immigration and Customs Enforcement Special-Agent-in-Charge Kyle Hutchins said in a written statement.
The Web site warned customers that subscribing to the site was illegal and urged them to be discreet, the statement said.( Watch report on virtual porn - 3:15 )
Officials said the suspects, who include more than a dozen convicted sex offenders, subscribed to the Web site in late 2005 and early 2006.
More arrests were expected, and Christie warned anyone involved in Internet child porn to be wary.
"You are not anonymous," he said. "We can and we will find you."
Officials would neither identify nor say who operated the Web site.
Christie said such pornography sites typically rake in $2 million per month.
Among the suspects was a former counselor at a Bible camp and a longtime Boy Scout leader and middle-school sports coach, the officials said.
www.cnn.com/2006/US/10/18/child.porn/index.html
"Today, we are taking steps against child pornography," U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie told reporters in Newark.
Fourteen of the suspects appeared Wednesday afternoon before a magistrate judge in Newark.
The arrests stem from Operation Emissary, which immigration and customs officials launched in New Jersey and extended to more than 21 other states.
It focused on a Web site that offered subscribers access to child porn videos and pictures, Christie and Immigration and Customs Enforcement Special-Agent-in-Charge Kyle Hutchins said in a written statement.
The Web site warned customers that subscribing to the site was illegal and urged them to be discreet, the statement said.( Watch report on virtual porn - 3:15 )
Officials said the suspects, who include more than a dozen convicted sex offenders, subscribed to the Web site in late 2005 and early 2006.
More arrests were expected, and Christie warned anyone involved in Internet child porn to be wary.
"You are not anonymous," he said. "We can and we will find you."
Officials would neither identify nor say who operated the Web site.
Christie said such pornography sites typically rake in $2 million per month.
Among the suspects was a former counselor at a Bible camp and a longtime Boy Scout leader and middle-school sports coach, the officials said.
www.cnn.com/2006/US/10/18/child.porn/index.html
