A rabbi, a paramedic, a nurse, two police officers and even a Boy Scout leader are among 71 individuals caught in a child porn sting in the New York City area.
"Federal authorities say the arrests are part of a five-week long investigation into a peer-to-peer file-sharing network. They say most of the arrests are of people in the five boroughs or Long Island." (Via NY1)
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security says it seized nearly 600 computers and 175 terabytes of data adding up to tens of thousands of sexually explicit pictures and videos of children.
The department says it sought people possessing, producing, distributing or searching for child porn. In a news conference Wednesday afternoon, the head of the department revealed the "shockingly descriptive" search terms offenders used to find these images and videos.
"Search terms ... include real child rape, mom-daughter family sex, three-year-old gets it every way imaginable. ... I believe that downplaying the depravity of this crime contributes to the increase of abuse." (Via CNN)
USA Today reports the only woman arrested in the roundup is accused of making lewd videos of her young son under the direction of another man arrested in the same sting.
The roundup is believed to be one of the largest in the New York City area and it all started because of a high-profile child pornography arrest in January.
"Authorities launched this five-week investigation after the arrest of former Mt. Pleasant Police Chief Brian Fanelli. Fanelli pleaded not guilty this week to federal child pornography charges." (Via News 12 Long Island)
The suspects range in age from 20 to 60 years old and there could be more arrests in the near future.
