World’s largest child porn bust:
100s arrested, ringleader charged after feds crack
dark web bitcoin transactions
Mercy Corp overlooked allegations of founder's
child sex abuse on his daughter
BY MARIKA MALAEA, Newsweek100s arrested, ringleader charged after feds crack
dark web bitcoin transactions
A South Korean man has been charged with running the largest-ever dark web child porn ring, hosting nearly eight terabytes of vile videos depicting sexual exploitation of children and infants. Hundreds of users have been arrested.
Jong Woo Son is facing multiple federal child porn charges for running a massive trove of child sexual exploitation that investigators have called the “world’s largest dark web child porn marketplace,” a nine-count indictment unsealed on Wednesday has revealed. The charges include advertising and distributing child porn as well as money laundering.
US federal investigators were able to trace the site to Son’s home thanks to a computer glitch that revealed his IP address. Servers that were home to some 200,000 different videos, uploaded by members of the site in exchange for “points” allowing them to view more of the depraved content, were kept in his own bedroom.
Browsers hunting for legal porn were warned away with a red-lettered notice on the site’s front page: “Do not upload adult porn.” The site’s location on the dark web meant accidental viewers were unlikely, as it could only be accessed with the exact address. Users paid for the abhorrent clips in points they bought with Bitcoin, which – despite its reputation for anonymity – helped investigators track them down.
“You may try to hide behind technology, but we will find you and arrest you and prosecute you,” US Attorney for the District of Columbia Jessie Liu said during a press conference on Wednesday.
“The scale of this crime is eye-popping and sickening,” John Fort, chief of IRS criminal investigations, told reporters, crediting “our agency’s ability to analyze the blockchain and de-anonymize Bitcoin transactions” with the “identification of hundreds of predators around the world.”
Among the hundreds of suspects arrested since the site’s seizure in March 2018 were several former US government employees. Richard Gratkowski, a former Homeland Security Investigations agent, was sentenced to 70 months in prison in May, after using his own government passport as identification to open an account with Bitcoin wallet company Coinbase, which he used to pay for his sick entertainment.
US Army veteran Stephen Langlois received 42 months in prison that same month for downloading 114 videos. Another unidentified former federal law enforcement agent had the equivalent of 50 hours of child porn footage downloaded from the site.
South Korean authorities have arrested over 300 suspects in addition to Son, noting that most were unmarried office workers in their 20s, though some had sex crimes on their record.
UK authorities have also nabbed some of the site’s users, including one man sentenced to 22 years in prison in March for repeatedly abusing two young children and uploading the footage to Welcome to Video.
Investigators from the Center for Missing and Exploited Children examining the footage were shocked to find that nearly half of it had not previously been encountered and depicted children unknown to authorities.
Tens of thousands more victims of man's evil madness!
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child sex abuse on his daughter
The late co-founder of the Portland-based, global nonprofit organization, Mercy Corps, allegedly abused his daughter from preschool until high school, according to a newly-released investigative report.
The Oregonian found that Mercy Corps executives knew co-founder Ellsworth Culver had been credibly accused of serial sexual abuse by his daughter. They still allowed him to continue working there for more than a decade.
Tania Culver Humphrey, the daughter of Ellsworth Culver, said she told Mercy Corps leaders of the abuse on at least two occasions. As a 21-year-old college student in 1992, Humphrey went to co-founder Dan O'Neill, board chairman Raymond Vath and Portland attorney and board member Robert Newell.
She gave them graphic details of the wide range of sexual, mental and emotional abuse she had endured from her father.
After its initial review of Humphrey's allegations, Mercy Corps determined there was insufficient evidence to support her allegations.
Dr. Raymond Vath, the board chairman at the time, wrote to Humphrey telling her the charity would take a "redemptive approach" with Culver and thanked her for "helping improve Mercy Corps."
She approached the organization again last year when she and her husband asked the organization to reexamine its handling of the original review.
The accounts of Humphrey, who agreed to allow her name to be used in the story, were corroborated by eight friends who knew her during her childhood and teen years. Three of them witnessed the abuse in person, and one woman revealed she had also been abused by Culver.
The Mercy Corps World Headquarters are located in the Old Town district of Portland, Oregon.
Michelle Green, 48, one of Humphrey's classmates from St. Mary's Academy in Portland, came forward about the alleged abuse she suffered at the hands of Culver. She also requested to be identified for the story.
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| Tania Culver |
The Oregonian spent 10 months investigating the allegations, interviewing Humphrey multiple times. They spoke with elementary school and high school friends, neighbors, counselors, support group leader and Humphrey's mother. They also reviewed correspondence with Mercy Corps, extensive medical and counseling records and reports from Oregon's child welfare agency.
Child Protective Services received two reports of sexual abuse concerning Humphrey: one from a teacher and another from a counselor. It's unclear why the state failed to respond.
Abuse revelations the third time around led to the resignation of longtime board member Robert Newell, and prompted Mercy Corps' CEO Neal Keny-Guyer to send a message to donors and employees worldwide.
"When Ms. Humphrey reached out to Mercy Corps in 2018, we had an opportunity to right a wrong. Instead, we failed her with our response. She should be commended for her courage in bringing these issues to us and we didn't do enough to listen to her. We added to Ms. Humphrey's suffering, and for that I am deeply sorry and profoundly apologetic."
Mercy Corps is "a global humanitarian organization empowering people to recover from crisis, build better lives and transform their communities for good." With $308 million in 2018 revenue, it is Portland's largest public benefit nonprofit. It employs more than 5,600 workers worldwide.
Tributes to Culver were taken down this week from the Mercy Corps website and all photographic evidence of him was removed from its headquarters.
Anglican Dean Jailed for Child Sex Abuse
in Newcastle, NSW
BY AAPFormer Anglican dean of Newcastle Graeme Lawrence has been jailed for sexually abusing a 15-year-old boy in 1991, with a detective stating he’s no longer an honoured OAM but a “CP—convicted paedophile.”
Newcastle District Court Judge Tim Gartelmann on Thursday jailed Lawrence, 77, for eight years with a minimum of four-and-a-half years after finding him guilty of aggravated sexual assault and aggravated indecent assault.
Judge Gartelmann said Lawrence had abused his position of trust in the church to commit the offences. “The victim and his mother must have trusted him because he was the dean,” the judge said. “This significantly aggravates the offences.”
Outside court, Detective Sergeant Jeff Little said: “He is no longer Graeme Lawrence OAM but Graeme Lawrence CP—convicted paedophile.” The ex-dean was awarded the medal of the Order of Australia in 1998.
Judge Gartelmann said the impact of the abuse on victim Ben Giggins had been profound particularly as he was at a sensitive stage of his development when Lawrence preyed on him. The judge believed the victim’s evidence during the trial had a “clear ring of truth” to it while Lawrence’s evidence lacked credibility.
Giggins, who was in year 10 at the time, had been packing up equipment at the cathedral when Lawrence invited him to a group gathering at the Deanery. He said there was no one else at the Deanery when Lawrence took him into a room with framed photos of naked boys on the walls.
Lawrence asked the 15-year-old if he liked the photos and the teenager said “No”. Lawrence then sexually assaulted him. Giggins said he was shaking and scared when he pleaded with Lawrence to stop but Lawrence kept telling him: “Just relax, it’s OK.”
Lawrence later told the boy: “Don’t bother telling anyone. You’re just a boy and I’m the dean. No one will believe you.” The 15-year-old fled the room, wiped his tears away and asked his mother to take him home.
He was bleeding when he showered and felt dirty no matter how long he washed.
Outside court, Giggins—who asked for the suppression order on his name to be lifted so he could speak out – said he was happy with the jail sentence as it showed people in powerful positions could not hide from the law. “It gives me closure due to the fact I’m believed,” he told reporters.
He urged other child sex abuse victims to come forward as his case showed authorities were prepared to act.
Lawrence was arrested after police received a referral in 2016 from the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.
Lawrence was defrocked by the Anglican Church in 2012.
That begs the question, why? Did the church already know about Lawrence's abuse of Giggins? Did it know of other abuses he might have committed?
Legal proceedings re-set for Ukrainian national charged with felony child sex abuse in California
The accused formerly lived in Canada, also
The felony case against a 58-year-old Ukrainian national charged with child sex abuse and possessing child pornography has been assigned to a new department in Solano County Superior Court in Fairfield.
Bantov, who remains in Solano County Jail custody, is charged with two counts of sex acts with a child 10 years old or younger; seven counts of lewd and lascivious acts on a child; and one count of possessing pornographic images.
He has pleaded not guilty to the charges, but if found guilty of all of them at trial, Bantov could be sentenced to spend the rest of his life in prison.
Deputy District Attorney Shelly Moore leads the prosecution, and, during a previous proceeding, she challenged the defendant’s claim he could not afford a private attorney because, she said, Bantov owns a home in San Francisco likely worth more than $1 million.
During that same earlier proceeding, Bantov’s attorney at the time, John D. Forsyth of San Francisco, argued for release of his client from jail, with bail, citing his client’s medical conditions: high blood pressure; lack of a prior criminal record; ownership of the San Francisco home; and his responsibility of caring for his elderly father in San Francisco.
Additionally, Forsyth noted Bantov has had no additional contact with the victims since his mid-September arrest in San Francisco by Vallejo police officers, and possessed a “green card,” a permit allowing a foreign national to live and work permanently in the United States.
But Moore told Commissioner Bryan J. Kim that police investigators noted a San Francisco neighbor of Bantov’s said the defendant had been trying to “sell his home for cash” and may be a flight risk.
Kim denied Forsyth’s request for bail.
The mid-September arrest was not the first time Bantov was placed into custody in the case. Court records indicate he was first arrested on Aug. 31 after police received a report at about 12:09 p.m. of a man fondling a minor inside the IHOP restaurant, at 114 Plaza Drive, in Vallejo.
Officers arrested Bantov, who, at the time, was in the company of two minors he was looking after. One of the minors was the same one that Bantov was seen fondling. An additional patron of the restaurant also reported seeing Bantov inappropriately touching the minor, police said.
He was arrested and booked into the Solano County jail on a count of lewd and lascivious acts with a child under 14. However, he apparently was released.
Almost two weeks later, however, on Sept. 12, detectives were able to successfully download and review the content of Bantov’s cell phone, according to a report by the Vallejo Times-Herald, a sister newspaper of The Reporter. Investigators found several images of child pornography. One of these photographs depicted Bantov involved in a lascivious act with one of the minors he was with at the IHOP, police said.
He was re-arrested the same day at his San Francisco home for child molestation and possession of child pornography.
Detectives have been continuously searching several electronic devices seized from Bantov’s residence. Additional images of child pornography have been located on those devices, police said.
Aussie ex-carer charged over historic child sexual abuse
– Strike Force Kruseana
Richmond Police District detectives have charged a man following a six-year investigation into alleged sexual and indecent assaults of children in the state’s Northern Rivers region more than 30 years ago.
In May 2013, detectives from Richmond Police District established Strike Force Kruseana to investigate allegations of sexual abuse of children from a boys home near Lismore, and other locations in the Mullumbimby area in the early 1980s.
Following extensive inquiries, strike force detectives, assisted by officers from South Sydney Police Area Command and the Australian Federal Police, arrested an 81-year-old man as he arrived at Sydney International Airport on a flight from the Philippines about midday yesterday (Saturday 19 October 2019).
Gosh, wonder what he was doing in the Philippines?
The man was taken to Mascot Police Station and charged with buggery (two counts), attempt buggery (two counts), procure act of indecency, assault, and indecent assault of male.
Police will allege in court that the man sexually and indecently assaulted two teenage boys who were in his care in the Northern Rivers region between 1980 and 1983.
He has been refused bail to appear at Parramatta Bail Court later today (Sunday 20 October 2019).
Investigations under Strike Force Kruseana are ongoing.
As their inquiries continue, detecives would like to speak with anyone who resided at the home in the early 1980s and/or has information relevant to the investigation.
Anyone with information that may assist Strike Force Kruseana investigators can contact Crime Stoppers in strict confidence on 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au.
Cape Town youth pastor faces 10 years in jail
for 47 child sex charges
A Rondebosch youth leader facing 47 sex abuse charges could face a 10-year prison sentence if a plea bargain he agreed to with the State on Friday is accepted by the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court, the Weekend Argus reported on Saturday.
Nicknamed "Porn Pastor", who had worked at Common Ground Church, reportedly three weeks ago did an about turn when he declared that he intended to stand trial in hopes of a lesser sentence than the 15-year imprisonment and five years suspended which he had agreed to after almost a year of negotiations with the State.
He faces 47 charges relating to seven male victims aged between 12 and 17. According to the publication, these include encouraging, enabling, instructing or persuading a child to perform a sexual act; compelled self-sexual assault; sexual grooming of children; and possession of child pornography.
News24 in September last year reported on the man's arrest on the church premises after he was reported to police by the parents of one of his alleged victims. The child was 14 years old.
The youth leader allegedly pretended to be a girl and exchanged naked photos with the boys via social media. Police after his arrest said the suspect threatened the boys with "online exposure" when they decided to stop sending photos.
The children would seek advice from him on how to handle the online bullying, and the youth leader would advise them to continue doing what the individual wanted, SAPS said at the time.
The police's Serial and Electronic Crimes Investigation section of the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit arrested the pastor following a joint investigation with the Hawks and the US's Homeland Security.
Authorities also seized several electronic items including cellphones, a laptop, a tablet and memory cards. Six months later, while out on R1 000 bail, he was again arrested, this time for charges related to the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act.
The man cannot be identified as his plea has not yet been heard and accepted in court.
Good grief! How is it the senior pastor, or anybody in the church didn't know this sooner?
Bolton, UK, man due to appear in court
charged with child sex offences
A man is due to appear in court charged with 15 counts of child sexual abuse.
William Brown, aged 66, of Parkway, Bolton, has been charged with 12 counts of sexual assault by touching a girl under 13.
Police have also charged him with one count of taking an indecent photograph/pseudo-photograph of a child, and two counts of making an indecent photograph/pseudo-photograph of a child.
He has been remanded in custody and will appear at Manchester Magistrates Court Saturday, October 19.
Police say the charge relates to an ongoing investigation into child sexual abuse in the Manchester area after reports were made to officers in July of this year.
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