Ashcroft announces arrests in computer pornography sting

Associated Press WriterWASHINGTON (AP) -- Federal law enforcement authorities have broken up a computer-based pornography ring that targeted children, Attorney General John Ashcroft said.

Announcing "Operation Candyman," Ashcroft said Monday that over 80 people have been arrested in the operation and said more are coming.

"As its name implies, the 'Operation Candyman' e-group had a single purpose in mind as well: to exploit and degrade children," Ashcroft told a news conference at FBI headquarters here.

"It is clear that a new marketplace for child poronography has emerged from the dark corners of cyberspace," he said. "Innocent boys and girls have been targeted by offenders who view them as sexual objects."

Holding a news conference with FBI officials, Ashcroft revealed that the sting operation had begun in January 2001 and that it continues.

"In the past 14 months," he said, "all 56 national FBI field offices investigated hundreds of individuals who were subscibers to the 'Candyman' email group." Ashcroft said that among those caught in the sting were police officers, members of the clergy and -- in one case -- a bus driver.

He said that prior to Monday's announcement, the FBI had arrested 86 people "on child pornography grounds" and that 27 members of the "Candyman" email group have been arrested and admitted to molesting 36 children.

Ashcroft told reporters federal authorities have shut down the email group and will to shut down others as well.

"Our investigation uncovered an estimated 7,000 members (of the email group), including some 2,400 outside out borders," he said.