Man pleads guilty in 'Operation Candyman' investigation

HANNIBAL, Mo. -- A northeast Missouri man arrested as part of the FBI's "Operation Candyman" investigation has pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing child pornography.

James Rader of Hannibal entered the plea Friday in U.S. District Court in St. Louis. Sentencing was scheduled for July 19. He could face up to five years and prison and a $250,000 fine.

In January, the FBI obtained a search warrant for Rader's home, computers and files. U.S. Attorney Ray Gruender said CDs and floppy disks contained images of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

Details of Operation Candyman were announced March 18 by Attorney General John Ashcroft, who said federal law enforcement authorities had broken up a computer-based pornography ring that targeted children. The effort targeted members of three Internet discussion groups on Yahoo! Inc.'s Web site, including one called "Candyman."

Eighty-six people in 26 states were arrested on charges related to child pornography.

Ashcroft said the sting operation had begun in January 2001. Among those caught in the sting were police officers and members of the clergy.

The investigation uncovered an estimated 7,000 members of the e-mail group, which has been shut down.

Further details about the investigation of Rader were not released. An FBI official did not return a phone call seeking comment.

An FBI spokeswoman said three people have been arrested through its St. Louis office as part of the investigation, including Rader. No one has been arrested through the FBI's Kansas City, Mo., field office, the FBI said.