FBI ran child porn distribution site to lure pedophiles

The FBI ran a child porn distribution service out of Nebraska in an attempt to catch more than 5,000 pedophiles, according to a report.

Federal agents raided the porn distribution operation in November, following a lengthy investigation. But instead of shutting it down, the FBI kept the site operating from November 16 until December 2nd, the Seattle Post Intelligencer reported.

By the time the site was closed, it had more than 5,600 users and at least 10,000 photos of children being displayed, raped or otherwise sexually abused. The Intelligencer said no charges have been publicly linked to the sting but at least one Washington home has been searched as a result of the investigation.

Aiding in the distribution of child porn appears to be a new strategy in the FBI's war on pedophiles. Federal agents have previously posed as distributors or customers on forums or chat rooms to identify people sharing sick images.

“Web site A”, as the Nebraska site was named in a search warrant affidavit, was essentially a bulletin board where people could advertise and share child porn.

The FBI has declined to comment and it is not known how many images were shared while it was in charge of the site.

“This remains an ongoing investigation, and local court rules and Department of Justice policy prohibit me from providing more information at this time,” FBI Omaha Division spokeswoman Sandy Breault told the Intelligencer.

“As in any given matter, if charges are filed, they will eventually become a matter of public record.”

The investigation was revealed in statements made by a Seattle-based FBI agent in a Washington court. The agent said the only way to identify users of the site was to keep it operating.