Innocent Images
Operation Candyman
Phase I
March 18, 2002

On 01/02/2001, FBI Houston initiated an investigation after an undercover agent identified three Yahoo! Egroups involved in posting, exchanging and transmitting child pornography. One website depicted the Egroup as the following: "This group is for People who love kids. You can post any type of messages you like too or any type of pics and vids you like too. P.S. IF WE ALL WORK TOGETHER WE WILL HAVE THE BEST GROUP ON THE NET." (SIC)

An Egroup is described as an "Electronic Group" or "community" of people communicating via the Internet, for one purpose and/or issue (i.e.: child pornography). These groups can be "closed" or "open" communities. In a closed community you must be invited in by a member of the group and the identity of the group cannot be identified by non-members searching the Internet. In open communities, such as "Candyman," any person searching the Internet can conduct a search by title or category, locate the group, and may be granted membership by the monitor of the group. The monitor may be the creator of the group or a member selected by the group.

Through the issuance of a court order to Yahoo!, FBI Houston concentrating on the Candyman Egroup, identified 7,000 unique E-mail addresses with 2,400 of the addresses outside of United States and 4,600 located domestically. Subpoenas were issued on all of the Internet providers for the addresses within the United States. Information on approximately 1,400 subjects were provided to Houston. Due to the large volume of subjects, Houston divided the investigation into two Phases. In Phase I, Houston set leads on 707 subjects. At least one subject was located in every FBI field office's territory with some field offices having up to 45 targets within their respective territories.

On 03/18/2002, FBI Houston is coordinating a Nationwide enforcement action against certain individuals who have been associated with Egroup, Candyman. To date, 231 searches have been executed, 86 individuals have been charges in over 26 states, 27 of these individuals admitted to the prior molestation of over 36 children. Many more arrests are anticipated during the week of 03/18/2002 and coming months. The occupations of some of the subject's have been a school bus driver, photographer, law enforcement personnel, members of clergy, and teacher's aide.