WASHINGTON (voa) – The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation unveiled Monday a sting operation against child pornographers on the Internet. Officials said among those caught are children’s baseball or Little League coaches, police and military officials and even a school bus driver.
FBI officials say at least 90 people in more than 20 states have been charged in the first phase of what is being called “Operation Candyman.” More arrests are expected in the coming weeks.
The year-long investigation by the FBI, as well as officials in various states, involved Websites and chat rooms where pedophiles could exchange child pornography. Officials said the probe has uncovered seven thousand members of a child pornography e-mail group, including 2.400 members outside the United States.
Attorney General John Ashcroft says the ongoing investigation demonstrates U.S. commitment to protecting the nation’s children from sexual predators.
The announcement coincides with a national scandal over child sex abuse by some members of the Catholic clergy.
