Child porn 'club' busted by officials

The FBI announced the indictment of 16 domestic and international suspects in a child pornography ring who are believed to be part of an Internet-based, members-only bulletin board called "Lost Boy."

The various defendants used the names "HarryPotter," "Bottles&Cans," "Undy12" and "WoodenDoll" to post explicit pictures on the Texas-based bulletin board.        

Authorities said the men were initiated into the password-protected site by posting graphic photos of child pornography and had to continue posting pictures to maintain access.

"This network was reserved for your most serious traders of child pornography and boy lovers," said U.S. Atty. Andre Birotte Jr.

Birotte said one of the most disturbing items investigators found was a "handbook project," a forum used to groom adult men interested in pursuing boys. Another disturbing find included a picture of a 9-year-old boy with Down syndrome being abused.

The "Lost Boy" group is charged with the "advertisement, transportation, receipt and possession of child pornography," according to a federal indictment.

The defendants, some of whom are from Southern California, include a Phoenix-based pediatric anesthesiologist and a Michigan man who admitted molesting two boys and photographing the abuse. 

The initial tip came in October 2008 when European law enforcement officials approached FBI agents in Copenhagen with information that a North Hollywood man had been communicating with a Danish man and an Italian national about how to obtain child pornography and engage in child sex tourism in Romania.

The website began operating as early as Sept. 1, 2007, and was shut down in January 2009.

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Comments

[Harold]

We as a society need to do a better job at protecting children from this kind of abuse. The penalties for any crime involving children needs to be greatly increased.

[Cathy]

Disgusting!

[Tornadoes28]

Death penalty for them.

[August]

The US Government has the world's largest child porn collection that they REFUSE to destroy.

ALL CHILD PORN MUST BE DESTROYED IMMEDIATELY!

[William]

I hope these guys learn their lessons in jail. No one likes a child molester/pervert. The punishments should be equally severe.

[Atrain]

Too many of these sickos living on this planet.
Let alone in the entire galaxy.

[Atrain]

I hate these subhumans who hurt the vulnerable.
Inhumans who need to be put to death.

[BillN]

I guess it takes a foreign law enforcement agency to wake up the troops here at home. When a local victim/survivor of previous child abuse, child prostitution and pornography steps forward , with a name and address of a prolific child molester and pornographer, all one gets is a yawn and maybe a stretch.

[Upset Bruin]

I hope the government fry those bastards. If not, just release them to the inmate population with tattoos brazened across their foreheads with the words, "Child Molester." Justice will be swiftly served.

[madsircool]

Names of suspects???

[javier]

They're gonna be the belles of the ball come prison time.... Good.

[alyssa gutierrez]

that can be the worst situtuation ever no matter what i feel really bad to whom may be the peoplwe responsible.

[Tmiller]

So true, Atrain. We have enough child molesters on earth. And, now we have to worry about the intergalactic child porn trade. I wish extra terrestrials would stop abusing their kids and sending the pictures here.

[Mcgibby]

I only hope that they hunt down each and every member of this group and castrate them publicly.

[robert]

this sounds like a homophobic rant...

oh wait, most child molestations are of men molesting boys...who'd have guessed.

[iluvla]

This just makes sick to my stomach! Why don't they post the pictures of them and use their real names? They need to pass a law given pedophiles one strike and your out. I don't know anyone who wouldn't agree with me!

[westsidejesse]

I just threw up a little in my mouth....

[ricj]

Shoot 'em. Just shoot 'em.

[Joseph L Cooke]

How many TSA guards won't show up for work now?

[against Porn]

what is wrong with these pigs i hope they burn in hell i hate sexual predators im sorrry but using a down syndrome child for sex trafficking really ticks me off off with there heads

[PadrePete]

"Death sentence!", "Death sentence!", "Death sentence!", "Death sentence!", "Death sentence!", "Death sentence!", "Death sentence!", "Death sentence!", "Death sentence!"...
The APPROPRIATE chant for those keeping vigil outside the court they'll be tried in.