A joint operation between the FBI and Justice Department, dubbed Operation Grayskull, led to the “dismantling of four dark web sites dedicated to images and videos containing child sexual abuse material (CSAM).”

The operation led to the convictions of 18 offenders who collectively received more than 300 years in prison.

For example, a Minnesota man was sentenced to 250 months in prison and lifetime supervised release for his involvement with one of these dark web sites.

“Today’s announcement sends a clear warning to those who exploit and abuse children: you will not find safe haven, even on the dark web,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division.

“These offenders thought that they could act without consequences, but they were wrong. Thanks to the relentless determination of our prosecutors and law enforcement partners we have exposed these perpetrators for who they are, eliminated their websites and brought justice to countless victims,” he continued.

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“This operation represents one of the most significant strikes ever made against online child exploitation networks,” said FBI Director Kash Patel.

“We’ve not only dismantled dangerous platforms on the dark web, but we’ve also brought key perpetrators to justice and delivered a powerful message: you cannot hide behind anonymity to harm children,” he added.

“Operation Grayskull represents one of the most significant strikes ever made against child sexual abuse material websites on the dark web. Every arrest in these cases not only delivers justice—it sends a powerful message: you cannot hide behind anonymity to harm children,” the FBI wrote.

More from the Justice Department:

Thomas Peter Katsampes, 52, of Eagan, Minnesota, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to advertise and conspiracy to distribute child pornography on Feb. 27. According to court documents, Katsampes joined a dark web site dedicated to CSAM in 2022, advertised and distributed CSAM over the website, including CSAM depicting prepubescent children, and eventually worked his way up to a staff position on the web site, which, among other things, involved moderating the site, enforcing the site’s rules for posting CSAM, and advising the site’s users about how to post CSAM.

In addition to Katsampes, eight individuals have been convicted and sentenced in the Southern District of Florida for their involvement in running the primary site targeted by Operation Grayskull.

The website’s leaders advertised and distributed CSAM, promulgated rules for the website, enforced the rules by banning or scolding users who violated them, held staff meetings, recruited members to serve as staff members, recommended users for promotion, edited and deleted user posts, praised individuals for participating in and contributing to the website, kept records of CSAM posts made by individual members, and paid for and maintained the website servers, among other things.

Operation Grayskull resulted in the dismantling of a total of four sites dedicated to images and videos depicting child sexual abuse. These websites were some of the most egregious on the dark web, and they included sections specifically dedicated to infants and toddlers, as well as depictions of violence, sadism, and torture. The websites also contained detailed advice on how to avoid detection by law enforcement – for example, by using sophisticated technologies.

In other judicial districts around the country, nine additional individuals have been convicted for their involvement with these websites.

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“FBI agents stormed the Alabama home of William ‘Boss’ Spearman in a high-stakes raid, ending one of the most prolific child abuse networks on the dark web,” Mario Nawfal noted.

“Operation Grayskull shut down 4 major sites hosting millions of exploitative images, with some seeing over 100,000 visits in a single day,” he added.

CBS News provided further details:

Spearman’s case has parallels to many of the others unearthed by Operation Grayskull. Spearman was accused of helping lead a dark web site with thousands of users and members. A sentencing memo submitted to the court said it was “no wonder” that he had tried to resist the FBI, rather than surrendering.

“The devices at his desk contained massive quantities of evidence proving that he was the lead administrator of Website A,” the memo said. “Unsurprisingly, the defendant’s devices also contained an enormous collection of images and videos depicting the rape and abuse of children.”

Selwyn Rosenstein was sentenced to 28 years in prison in 2022, for operating a dark website for unlawful exploitative images. Prosecutors said the platform “was not simply a website; it was a large, active community of pedophiles and (abuse material) enthusiasts. And it existed in part because of the Defendant’s criminal acts.”

Rosenstein possessed such a large quantity of abusive images, he needed to store some on a server he used to run his business, according to the Justice Department.

Speaking from a second floor conference room at Justice Department headquarters in Washington last week, Galeotti told CBS News the members of these dark web child abuse sites often “earn” membership by paying a fee, “helping moderate the site” or contributing child abuse images or material.

Galeotti said, “We luckily have very sophisticated prosecutors and agents who work specifically on this kind of thing. These are people who have a more of a technical understanding.”

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“The defendants in this case, as sadistic as they may be, are somewhat sophisticated,” and make use of encryption, he added.

Operation Grayskull also secured the conviction of Matthew Garrell of Raleigh, North Carolina, who was sentenced to 20 years in prison for operating on a dark web site for abuse material.

 

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