WASHINGTON — The FBI has arrested 12 Americans accused of participating in a global child-pornography ring that distributed more than 400,000 lewd pictures and movies.
Authorities describe the online forum, which was encrypted to keep police out, as one of the most sophisticated pornographic networks ever.
On Tuesday, FBI executive assistant director J. Stephen Tidwell said police will be trying for years to find the victims.
The indictment unsealed last week in federal court in Pensacola, Fla., said some of the victims were as young as 5 years old. Others were preyed upon for innocent characteristics such as wearing their hair in pigtails.
Authorities said 22 people were swept up in arrests in the U.S., Australia, Canada, Germany and England. The Americans were charged in 11 states: California, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia and Washington.
