FBI, DOJ arrest ringleaders of dark web child porn exploitation networks with over 120,000 users
An FBI official said that the sites collectively attracted over 120,000 users and had at least 100,000 visits in a single day.
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An FBI official said that the sites collectively attracted over 120,000 users and had at least 100,000 visits in a single day.
The Justice Department has announced the results of Operation Grayskull, a sweeping joint investigation with the FBI that dismantled four dark web sites dedicated to child sexual abuse material (CSAM). The operation has so far resulted in 18 convictions across multiple federal districts and significant sentences for offenders involved in the distribution and advertisement of CSAM.
One of the most notable sentences came last week, when Thomas Peter Katsampes, 52, of Eagan, Minnesota, was sentenced to 250 months in prison, lifetime supervised release, and ordered to pay $23,000 in restitution. Katsampes pleaded guilty in February to conspiracy to advertise and distribute child pornography. According to court records, he joined one of the dark web sites in 2022, actively advertised and distributed CSAM, including material depicting prepubescent children, and eventually became a site moderator responsible for enforcing posting rules and advising others on sharing illegal content.
“These offenders thought that they could act without consequences, but they were wrong,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the DOJ’s Criminal Division. “Thanks to the relentless determination of our prosecutors and law enforcement partners, we have exposed these perpetrators, eliminated their websites, and brought justice to countless victims.”
FBI Director Kash Patel called Operation Grayskull “one of the most significant strikes ever made against online child exploitation networks,” emphasizing that anonymity on the dark web will not protect predators from law enforcement. “You cannot hide behind anonymity to harm children,” Patel said.
Investigators described the dismantled websites as some of the most "egregious" child exploitation platforms online, featuring sections devoted to infants, toddlers, and violent content involving sadism and torture. The sites also provided users with tips on avoiding detection by law enforcement, as well as using advanced encryption and anonymization techniques. An FBI official told CBS News that the sites collectively attracted over 120,000 users, and had at least 100,000 visits in a single day.
Members of these networks operated with a structured hierarchy, recruiting moderators, holding staff meetings, and tracking contributions. Leaders enforced strict rules for posting CSAM, banned violators, and maintained the sites’ servers.
Alongside Katsampes, eight defendants were prosecuted and sentenced in the Southern District of Florida alone for running one of the largest targeted websites:
An additional nine individuals were convicted in other federal districts, with sentences ranging from nearly six years to 18 years. Among them:
Two other individuals died before they could be charged. Arrests were also made internationally, including in the UK, Netherlands, Italy, Germany, Estonia, Belgium, and South Africa.
Operation Grayskull was led by the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and the FBI’s Child Exploitation Operational Unit, with support from multiple U.S. Attorney’s Offices and international partners. The investigation is part of Project Safe Childhood, a DOJ initiative launched in 2006 to combat online child exploitation and abuse.
“Let this be a clear warning,” said US Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida. “We will relentlessly pursue and prosecute anyone engaged in such atrocities, no matter how they attempt to cover their tracks.”
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