- Seven US men convicted over child porn
- The Age
- 16/01/2009 Make a Comment
- Contributed by: The Rooster ( 258 articles in 2009 )
A Florida jury has convicted seven US men for their roles in an international child pornography ring that traded more than 400,000 illegal images and videos.
The defendants, convicted on Wednesday, each face 20 years to life in prison for multiple charges including transporting, receiving and advertising child pornography through a highly sophisticated network in a case that has also spawned investigations in Australia, Britain and Germany.
An Australian policeman who infiltrated the group in 2006 testified that it traded more than 400,000 images and videos of pre-pubescent children, including toddlers, in sexual and sadistic acts before authorities dismantled it.
"This was a widescale, high-volume, international trafficking enterprise that used sophisticated computer encryption technology and file-sharing techniques," Acting Assistant Lawyer General Matthew Friedrich said in a statement on Thursday.
"Those who operate such enterprises can expect law enforcement, not only here but abroad, to react swiftly and aggressively, as we have done here."
About 50 witnesses testified at the trial, which also included 500 exhibits of evidence that established the defendants' roles in the ring set up to "proliferate child sex abuse images to its membership", the statement said.
"This jury verdict signals, once again, the community's reprehension for the culture of abuse and torture that is child pornography," US lawyer for northern Florida Thomas Kirwin said.
Seven other US defendants had previously pleaded guilty in the case.
Sentencing for the seven convicted Wednesday is scheduled for April 14.
The case was part of Project Safe Childhood, a US initiative the Justice Department says was set up to fight the "growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse".
The defendants, convicted on Wednesday, each face 20 years to life in prison for multiple charges including transporting, receiving and advertising child pornography through a highly sophisticated network in a case that has also spawned investigations in Australia, Britain and Germany.
An Australian policeman who infiltrated the group in 2006 testified that it traded more than 400,000 images and videos of pre-pubescent children, including toddlers, in sexual and sadistic acts before authorities dismantled it.
"This was a widescale, high-volume, international trafficking enterprise that used sophisticated computer encryption technology and file-sharing techniques," Acting Assistant Lawyer General Matthew Friedrich said in a statement on Thursday.
"Those who operate such enterprises can expect law enforcement, not only here but abroad, to react swiftly and aggressively, as we have done here."
About 50 witnesses testified at the trial, which also included 500 exhibits of evidence that established the defendants' roles in the ring set up to "proliferate child sex abuse images to its membership", the statement said.
"This jury verdict signals, once again, the community's reprehension for the culture of abuse and torture that is child pornography," US lawyer for northern Florida Thomas Kirwin said.
Seven other US defendants had previously pleaded guilty in the case.
Sentencing for the seven convicted Wednesday is scheduled for April 14.
The case was part of Project Safe Childhood, a US initiative the Justice Department says was set up to fight the "growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse".
Source: https://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-world/seven-us-men-convicted-over-child-porn-20090116-7ih8.html
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