Priests charged as FBI smashes child porn ring
The FBI has shut down an Internet-based child-pornography ring brought criminal charges against 86 people in 26 states.
Those sought, or already arrested, included two Catholic priests, six other clergy members, a school bus driver and at least one policeman.
The FBI said it expected to arrest at least 50 other people by the end of the week in the sweep, called Operation Candyman. The effort targeted members of three Internet discussion, including one called Candyman.
Investigators said 7,000 people worldwide registered e-mail addresses with the Candyman group, and authorities were able to trace 1,400 people in the US through those addresses.
‘‘A new marketplace for child pornography has opened in the dark corners of cyberspace,’’ said Attorney General John Ashcroft. ‘‘There will be no free rides on the Internet for those who traffic in child pornography.’’
