245 arrested in international child porn investigation

Updated 5:50 PM ET

WASHINGTON About 245 people have been arrested in an international investigation of child pornography, Immigration and Customs Enforcement said Thursday.

The agency's director, John Morton, said 123 child victims were identified during the five-week investigation, which ended in early December. ICE and local authorities found 110 victims in 19 U.S. states, while the others were living in six countries elsewhere.

Morton declined to provide specific details about which foreign countries were involved, saying only that there were some cases in Mexico.

The investigation, dubbed "Operation Sunflower," was part of ICE's effort to find and rescue victims, and arrest abusers and people who make or transmit child pornography.

"We have to attack child exploitation relentlessly and together. There is no other way, there is no other answer," Morton said. "It is a wrong among wrongs. We are literally defending the defenseless."

Morton also announced arrest warrants for two unidentified adults charged in Los Angeles with molesting a girl who appeared in online photos to be about 13 when she was abused. The man and woman were identified only as "John Doe" and "Jane Doe" and authorities believe they may have been in the San Fernando Valley area north of Los Angeles when they abused the girl. Photos of the abuse investigators found online are believed to be about 11 years old, Morton said.

The victims ranged in age from less than 1 to 17 years old. Morton said 44 of the victims were living with their accused abusers.

Among those arrested were 51-year-old Gerald Roberts, of Pageland, S.C., who is accused of producing child pornography using a 6-year-old girl. Roberts, who has pleaded not guilty, was arrested Nov. 8 and is facing federal charges. His attorney, Michael Allen Meetze, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Michael Wioskowski, 54, of Eastpointe, Mich., was arrested Nov. 27 on charges of possession and receipt of child pornography. Investigators found a video in his home of two underage girls showering at his house when they served a warrant at his home. Wioskowski was a court security officer and formerly a reserve police officer in Michigan.

Wioskowski has not entered a plea, according to court records. His attorney, Robert S. Harrison, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

In Fresno, Calif., 26-year-old Bradley Vaine, a convicted sex offender, was arrested Nov. 6 on federal charges of distribution and possession of child pornography. ICE said a 7-year-old mentally disabled girl was rescued. According to court records, Vaine was in federal custody and has not entered a plea. His attorney, Victor Chavez, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

[countypa]

Now the need to do the adult books where men have sex with other men as the owner make money from this (dirtandmoredirt com)

[SeymourHolz]

If the govt accuses someone of a pedo crime, people never ask about evidence, they are always happy to assume guilt.
Accuse a guy of treason, robbery, murder, anything else, he'll have supporters coming outta the woodwork demanding real evidence.
But accuse a guy of a pedo crime, and his own mother will knot the hangman's noose without the slightest curiosity.
I mention this, because it seems the govt has noticed this too....

[friend2008]

These are the real American men. Thank you guys!

[Cheldarlin66]

I wish I could understand the 5 WEEK investigation? Being a victim of sexual abuse for years as a child (10yrs), I'm afraid the investigation took way to much time, really? 150+ days. In those 150+ days, those children were being tortured ,raped, terrorized you all get my point! Please understand I know there was a lot of sick nasty individuals arrested in this 5 WEEK Investigation! I personally think that maybe because of all of the burricratical bull----,red tape, And legal protocol. So that these predators RIGHTS aren't broken. What about the CHILDRENS RIGHTS! Change is in order!!!!! As far as I'm concerned if for any reason we know a person may be in anyway involved with a child for purpose of any sexual gratification, and or breaking the CHILD'S RIGHTS to be safe, secure, innocence intact.
Holy God, I'm sitting here typing this out and instead of saying what , as a SURVIVIOR of CHILD SEXAUL ABUSE should be able to express freely, I'm choosing my words so that I don't offend the law makers , the sick twisted preditors that feed on our children. The police officers and detectives that work these case, and most of all the JUDGES that fail to grow a set.Instead Would rather sit and haggle if what in the investigation may harm or violate any of their rights ! PLEASE GIVE ME A REASON that would make sense of 150+ days that these children where terrified , raped , tortured , degraded , and stripped of any security to feel safe , truly and freely safe! Ya I at 47yrs old today ,am still trying to find real security, feel safe , even to allow my 11yr old to ride his bike around the flippen corner with his friends. I am only one small voice , but i am someone. Sincerely ,
M. Doyle
Washington, Olympia

[quincytodd]

Finally some good news after so much bad! Since we're living in a sick society, they probably won't put away all these low-lifes, but the fewer of these creeps on the streets, the better!

[FormerUSMCSergeant]

One of the best ramifications of the internet is the tracking and apprehension of these animals.
Surely, there are thousands still awaiting their just "reward".

[judymar14]

All their names and addresses should be given to the media. There is no words low enough to describe these sub-humans.

[quincytodd]

Thank you, Judymar14. Those are my words exactly!

[technocoffee]

Putrid subhumans who victimize children should DIE!! Strange how the government here can shut down gambling and Canadian pharmacy websites, but not child porn. Too many powerful men love it so....

[hypnotoad72]

I wonder how many of those "powerful men" are Catholic... not that Catholics are the only ones that do the deed and hide it.

[onthedelaware]

Extensive studies were done in NJ Avenel Sex Offender Unit for many years. The only time we appear to pay attention to these criminals is when we hear about them in the news. Meanwhile, there is information available to review. Rehabilitation of these individuals is rare. Chemical castration is what I believe to be an option for pedophiles. A review of the laws for this type of crime is urgent. They are rated by number of offenses and often are released.We are rightfully upset about gun violence and children but the suffering that families of abused children endure -- the endless problems for the adult who has been molested needs to be a subject that everyone can understand. For instance, our souls are not killed by the molestation as it is implied in one of these posts. There is no way to explain the guilt that adults go through if it is a family member. Sometimes a child is not believed and punished. Sometimes the child is traumatized and takes years to get back on track. Sexual abuse and battery of a child should require a long prison sentence and when released, managed release with electronic monitoring. Only then can this type of offender be in society.

[luckyturqoise]

I believe their is nothing you can do to stop these perverts. They should be condemned to death as they will never change and the little souls of these children are forever ruined.

[hypnotoad72]

Scarred, but not ruined.

As a child, I was molested... by more than one person... not all at the same time, either.

I too side with the death penalty. I do wonder what it would be like if I never had flashbacks or more confidence in myself, and more trust in people in general. I will never know love in the way most people take for granted. I know that those who did those things to me have gotten away with it, since - when I did tell people - nobody listened.

I'm not bitter, and I probably could write a book, but why wallow? Laws and regulations need to be updated and enforced. No more lies, no more cover-ups, no more chicanery. Especially by "religions" that allow this stuff to go on and be quietly buried.