At least eighteen individuals have been convicted as a result of a
coordinated operation between the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the
FBI, which uncovered their involvement on four “dark web” sites
dedicated to child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
On Wednesday, the DOJ announced the details behind Operation Grayskull,
“a highly successful joint effort between the Department of Justice and
the FBI that resulted in the dismantling of four dark web sites
dedicated to images and videos containing child sexual abuse material
(CSAM).”
The announcement stated that the operation has led to the convictions of 18 offenders, including Thomas Peter Katsampes, 52,
who was sentenced to 250 months in prison and lifetime supervised
release for his involvement with one of these dark web sites. He was
also ordered to pay $23,000 in restitution.
According to court documents, Katsampes joined a dark web site
dedicated to CSAM in 2022, he advertised and distributed CSAM on the
website, including CSAM depicting prepubescent children, and he
eventually worked his way up to a staff position on the site — which
included moderating the site.
As a moderator, he would enforce the site’s CSAM “posting rules,” as well as advise the site’s users how to post CSAM.
“Yesterday’s sentencing reaffirms our steadfast commitment to
protecting our children, the most vulnerable among us, from those who
exploit and harm them through the despicable trade in child sexual abuse
material,” U.S. Attorney Hayden O’Byrne for the Southern District of
Florida said in a statement.
“Thomas Peter Katsampes and his co-conspirators ran some of the
darkweb’s most heinous networks, enabling horrific crimes against
innocent victims, but Operation Grayskull has shut these sites down and
delivered justice. We applaud the FBI and our international partners for
their tireless work, and let this be a clear warning: we will
relentlessly pursue and prosecute anyone engaged in such atrocities, no
matter how they attempt to cover their tracks,” the statement continued.
FBI Director Kash Patel said: “This operation represents one of the
most significant strikes ever made against online child exploitation
networks. 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.”
In addition to Katsampes, eight others have been convicted and
sentenced in the Southern District of Florida for their roles in
operating the major site targeted by Operation Grayskull.
- Selwyn David Rosenstein, of Boynton Beach, Florida.
Pleaded guilty to conspiracy to advertise child pornography, five
counts of advertisement of child pornography, and possession of child
pornography. Sentenced on Dec. 12, 2022, to 28 years in prison and
ordered to pay $80,500 in restitution to victims of his offense.
- Matthew Branden Garrell, of Raleigh, North
Carolina, Pleaded guilty to conspiracy to advertise child pornography
and conspiracy to distribute child pornography. Sentenced on Aug. 1,
2023, to 20 years and 10 months in prison and ordered to pay $158,500 in
restitution to victims of his offense.
- Robert Preston Boyles, of Clarksville, Tennessee.
Pleaded guilty to conspiracy to advertise child pornography and
conspiracy to distribute child pornography. Sentenced on Aug. 15, 2023,
to 23 years and four months in prison and ordered to pay $7,500 in
restitution to victims of his offense.
- Gregory Malcolm Good, of Silver Springs, Nevada.
Pleaded guilty to conspiracy to advertise child pornography and
conspiracy to distribute child pornography. Sentenced on Aug. 22, 2023,
to 25 years and 10 months in prison and ordered to pay $93,500 in
restitution to victims of his offense.
- William Michael Spearman of Madison, Alabama.
Pleaded guilty to engaging in a child exploitation enterprise. Sentenced
on Jan. 23, 2024, to life in prison and ordered to pay $123,400 in
restitution to victims of his offense.
- Joseph Addison Martin, of Tahuya, Washington.
Pleaded guilty to engaging in a child exploitation enterprise. Sentenced
on April 18, 2024, to 42 years in prison and ordered to pay $174,500 in
restitution to victims of his offense.
- Joseph Robert Stewart, of Milton, Washington.
Pleaded guilty to conspiracy to advertise child pornography and
conspiracy to distribute child pornography. Sentenced on April 18, 2024,
to 23 years and 9 months in prison and ordered to pay $19,500 in
restitution to victims of his offense.
- Keith David McIntosh, of Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Pleaded guilty to conspiracy to advertise child pornography and
conspiracy to distribute child pornography, both as a person with a
prior conviction for possession of child pornography. Sentenced on Dec.
19, 2024, to 55 years in prison.
In other judicial districts around the country, nine additional
individuals have been convicted for their involvement with these
websites as well, including the following:
- Charles Hand, of Aberdeen, Maryland, was prosecuted in the District of Maryland and was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison;
- Michael Ibarra, of Wenatchee, Washington, was prosecuted in the Eastern District of Washington and was sentenced to 12 years in prison;
- Clay Trimble, of Fordyce, Arkansas, was prosecuted in the Eastern District of Arkansas and was sentenced to 18 years in prison;
- David Craig, of Houston, Texas, was prosecuted in the Southern District of Texas and was sentenced to nine years in prison;
- Robert Rella of Chesapeake, Virginia, was
prosecuted in the Eastern District of Virginia and was sentenced to five
years and eight months in prison;
- Samuel Hicks, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, was prosecuted in the Northern District of Indiana and was sentenced to 16 years in prison;
- Richard Smith of Dallas, Texas, was prosecuted in the Eastern District of Texas and was sentenced to 14 years in prison;
- Patrick Harrison, of Grand Rapids, Michigan, was
prosecuted in the Western District of Michigan and was sentenced to five
years and ten months in prison.
- Thomas Gailus, of Webbers Falls, Oklahoma, was prosecuted in the Eastern District of Oklahoma, and his sentencing is pending.
According to the release, two other individuals in the United States
died before being charged for their involvement with the websites. The
operation also resulted in arrests in the United Kingdom, the
Netherlands, Italy, Germany, Estonia, Belgium, and South Africa.
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