CBS/AP/ August 10, 2012, 6:17 PM

Feds probe possible Sandusky child porn ring

Former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky leaves the Centre County Courthouse in handcuffs after a jury found him guilty in his sex abuse trial June 22, 2012, in Bellefonte, Pa.

Former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky leaves the Centre County Courthouse in handcuffs after a jury found him guilty in his sex abuse trial June 22, 2012, in Bellefonte, Pa. / Getty Images

Updated 5:21 PM ET

(CBS/AP) U.S. Postal inspectors are leading a federal investigation into whether former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky shared child pornography with other individuals, CBS News has learned.

Analyzing a computer seized from Sandusky, investigators are also looking into whether he sent "seductive letters" across state lines for sexual purposes. Some of these letters were said to be sent to some of his sexual abuse victims.

CBS News has learned that at the end of 2011, allegations were forward by the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. that Sandusky used the mails to seduce individuals to cross state lines for sexual purposes, with trips and gifts offered. Investigators are looking at 6-7 victims who might have gotten letters.

Also in March of this year, U.S. Postal inspectors were tasked to investigate The Second Mile charity, which was founded by Sandusky. That investigation is on hold, awaiting for documents to be released by the State Attorney.

A source has been told that child pornography was found in at least one of Sandusky's computers. According to the source, there is no evidence that the pornography was of his victims. There is also no mention of a ring or sharing of boys with others. CBS News investigative producer Pat Milton reports that a second source said that none of Sandusky's victims have indicated that there was shared sex with them, Sandusky and any other individual.

The investigation is being carried out of the U.S. Postal Inspectors office in Harrisburg, Pa. and the U.S. Attorney Office of the Middle District of Pennsylvania.

"I haven't heard a thing about this latest allegation," Sandusky's attorney Joe Amendola, told CBS News. "Jerry continues to maintain his innocence. We think the allegation is ridiculous."

Sandusky, Penn State's defensive coordinator during the program's best years, was arrested in November on dozens of child sex abuse charges. He was convicted in June of 45 criminal counts.

Meanwhile, Penn State's board of trustees will meet this weekend to consider whether to ratify a consent decree with the NCAA that imposed penalties for how the university handled the Sandusky child molestation scandal.

Board chairwoman Karen Peetz told fellow trustees Thursday in an email, which was obtained by The Associated Press, that said there was confusion about how Penn State accepted the sanctions and whether it was the "best course" for the university.

"We have heard from President (Rodney) Erickson and from our legal team," Peetz wrote. "We have had an opportunity to speak our minds. I appreciate everyone's candor and your sincere and heartfelt comments. However, it is now time to put this matter to rest and to move on."

The resolution before the board would say that it "wishes to and hereby does ratify" the consent decree.

"We are leaders of this university," Peetz told the trustees. "We need to lead."

A notice posted on Penn State's website said the 5 p.m. Sunday telephone conference would be broadcast live online.

The NCAA on July 23 barred the school from postseason play for four years, fined it $60 million and invalidated 112 of the football team's wins for the way school officials handled abuse complaints against Sandusky.

Penn State also was stripped of future scholarships, and several high-profile players have decided to transfer to other schools since the penalties were announced. The team opens play at home Sept. 1 against Ohio University.

The NCAA concluded Penn State suffered "an unprecedented failure of institutional integrity leading to a culture in which a football program was held in higher esteem" than its own values, those of the NCAA and higher education, "and most disturbingly the values of human decency."

Penn State acquiesced to the penalties, with Erickson signing the agreement. Two days later, the trustees met in secret before issuing a statement that called the sanctions difficult but the alternatives worse.

Some trustees, alumni and others have reacted angrily. The family of former football coach Joe Paterno, who died in January, and a trustee who said others supported him have sought to appeal the NCAA's decision, but the organization has said the decision is not subject to appeals.

© 2012 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
33 Comments Add a Comment
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geography20122 says:
THIS CASE WAS SPECIAL AUTHORIZED TO LOCATE SIGNATURES OF ALL AWARE REFUSING TO PROMOTE CHILD PORNO RING CONSEQUENCES EXCEPT REAL SIGNATURES AND REASON RECORDED AND IDENTIFIED AS LONG HISTORY OF FORCED RAPE CHARGES AND MASS NUMBER OF VICTIMS LOCATED AS SPECIAL FBI AUTHORIZATION ALL DEPTS AWARE >>ANOTHER CONCEALMENT IN EFFECT AS OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE AGAIN!AT LEAST THIRD TRIAL REQUIRING FULL LOCATION OF STRING OF WITNESSES>DHR CONCEALMENT RECORDS FORCED TO BE REOPENED!
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geography20122 says:
Child Porno Ring over 47 years including death of boy scout left in tent with Sandusky hemmorhage rape..Paterno IS A RAPIST TOO>>FACT>>SMALL UNCOMFORTABLE PRIVELGED AS GRANDFATHERLY SECRET FORCED RAPE..THEN..FATAL UNCONSCIOUS DONKEYFACE GIANT TO BEG TO GOD THAT YOU COULD DIE INSTEAD ABANDONED AS DEATH..UNABLE TO CRAWL AND NO ONE AROUND TO HEAR SCREAMS ANYWAY!!WATER/SHADE/SAFETY..FEAR AS HELPLESS TO ESCAPE WHEN THEY COME BACK!!DORTHY AT RAPE TRIAL IN NASHVILLE TN 1966..FORCED PRISONER TO HER HATRED ACCUSING HER MAN MOLESTER BASTARD >>OF A RETARDED CHUCH LIAR PLAYING RETARDED AGAIN>>SURPRISE..NO DAMNED WAY..NO ESCAPE FOR THEM THIS TIME> HELLO!
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geography20122 replies:
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UNIVERSITY COPS ARE CREEPS TAKING AUTHORITY ADVICE TO SEARCH NOT OR SEEK NOT.. NOTIFY NO ONE>>AS A CAMPUS TROUBLE ONLY.
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Elest555 says:
Why do they care about what is on his computer? Just ask the victims who they were pimped out to! They are just trying to cover it all up again.
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ArronWolf says:
The punishment is good it should teach other schools not to hide stuff.
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w_roos says:
Time to change the name of the school to Ped State.
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carolzepp says:
Terrible, of course. But why don't we hear anything about this story:

http://www.wickedlocal.com/cambridge/news/x1992161099/Man-reveals-details-of-child-sex-abuse-while-at-Harvard-swim-classes-in-Cambridge#axzz23GXeGOsP
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GodsentAngel says:
Jerry Attorney finds the allegation "ridiculous" because Joe Amendola is a pedo too. Married a 15-16 year old girl he represented/help emancipate from her parents! Look it up. This case reminds me of the The Franklin Coverup. The Franklin child prostitution ring involved high-profile 1988 and 1991 child sex ring serving prominent citizens of Omaha, Nebraska, as well as high-level U.S. politicians. These famous/powerful elite prey on Boys Town which Jerry was a part of (children is foster care) and yes they share these kids because they are that SICK. Look up the Franklin Coverup. The Pedos are still Nebraska and all over this world. I am grateful this story is getting exposer. I pray we get to the root of this for the children and throw them all in jail.
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cozzicon says:
I feel bad for the victims. I also feel bad for the innocent academics who have been teaching and doing research at Penn State.

There's a gentleman with 4 PHDs and a 180iq whom I'm acquainted with, and his career is being somewhat affected by all the media coverage.

Also the students....

Everyone loses.
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Simple_Simon432 replies:
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The punishment handed down by the NCAA punishes everyone but those responsible for this mess.

They should have left the University as well as the football program alone and concentrated on the few individuals responsible!
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netjunkie1 says:
I have always felt that the NCAA should never have this sort of power.
They undermine the system of education to begin with.
Now it seems to me they dictate university and college policy instead of the system president.
It should have been the system president that held Penn state in contempt. He should have kicked Penn State out of the football program, not the NCAA....heck I cant even find any rules that give them the authority to do what they did. All I can find their rules on is of playing rules and recruitment rules, but nothing I have found has any criminal or sexual references.
If they exist somebody please post them.
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Simple_Simon432 replies:
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The football program should not have been punished at all. Only the individuals involved should have been reprimanded.
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Teddie Seeley says:
I cannot imagine, that Sandusky, would want to share his victims.
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Crystalsm replies:
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None of us can "imagine" the way pedophiles think or what they are capable of doing. Sadly, nothing would surprise me.
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