Operation Delego
Encyclopedia
Operation Delego is a major international law enforcement investigation which dismantled an international pedophile
ring that operated an invitation-only Internet site named Dreamboard which featured incentives for images of the violent sexual abuse of young children under twelve, including infants. Only 72 charges were filed against the approximately 600 members of Dreamboard due to the extensive encryption
involved. Members were required to upload new material at least every 50 days to maintain their access and remain in good standing. Of those arrested to date (among them a Virginia high school football coach), at least 15 actually produced the child pornography they posted to the bulletin board.
Dozens of law enforcement agencies were involved worldwide, including Eurojust
, and arrests were made on all five continents. Twenty of those charged, however, are only known by their Internet handles, and as such were each individually charged as John Doe
s and remain at large. However, some of the indictments have been unsealed as of August 2011, and the names of some of those involved in Dreamboard are available.
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano
stated at a news conference that "The board may have been the vehicle for the distribution of up to 123 terabytes of child pornography, which is roughly equivalent to 16,000 DVDs," making this the DHS's largest child porn bust in its history. Launched in 2009 by federal law enforcement, Operation Delego resulted in the arrest of 52 people in 14 countries including Canada, Denmark, Ecuador, France, Germany, Hungary, Kenya, the Netherlands, Philippines, Qatar, Serbia, Sweden and Switzerland, according to Department of Justice Attorney General Eric Holder
. Furthermore, according to federal agents, while Dreamboard's servers were located in Louisiana, the site's top administrators were in France and Canada.
Operation Delego is ongoing.
Pedophilia
As a medical diagnosis, pedophilia is defined as a psychiatric disorder in adults or late adolescents typically characterized by a primary or exclusive sexual interest in prepubescent children...
ring that operated an invitation-only Internet site named Dreamboard which featured incentives for images of the violent sexual abuse of young children under twelve, including infants. Only 72 charges were filed against the approximately 600 members of Dreamboard due to the extensive encryption
Encryption
In cryptography, encryption is the process of transforming information using an algorithm to make it unreadable to anyone except those possessing special knowledge, usually referred to as a key. The result of the process is encrypted information...
involved. Members were required to upload new material at least every 50 days to maintain their access and remain in good standing. Of those arrested to date (among them a Virginia high school football coach), at least 15 actually produced the child pornography they posted to the bulletin board.
Dozens of law enforcement agencies were involved worldwide, including Eurojust
Eurojust
Eurojust is an agency of the European Union dealing with judicial co-operation in criminal matters....
, and arrests were made on all five continents. Twenty of those charged, however, are only known by their Internet handles, and as such were each individually charged as John Doe
John Doe
The name "John Doe" is used as a placeholder name in a legal action, case or discussion for a male party, whose true identity is unknown or must be withheld for legal reasons. The name is also used to refer to a male corpse or hospital patient whose identity is unknown...
s and remain at large. However, some of the indictments have been unsealed as of August 2011, and the names of some of those involved in Dreamboard are available.
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano
Janet Napolitano
Janet Napolitano is the third and current United States Secretary of Homeland Security, serving in the administration of President Barack Obama. She is the fourth person to hold the position, which was created after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. A member of the Democratic Party, she was the 21st...
stated at a news conference that "The board may have been the vehicle for the distribution of up to 123 terabytes of child pornography, which is roughly equivalent to 16,000 DVDs," making this the DHS's largest child porn bust in its history. Launched in 2009 by federal law enforcement, Operation Delego resulted in the arrest of 52 people in 14 countries including Canada, Denmark, Ecuador, France, Germany, Hungary, Kenya, the Netherlands, Philippines, Qatar, Serbia, Sweden and Switzerland, according to Department of Justice Attorney General Eric Holder
Eric Holder
Eric Himpton Holder, Jr. is the 82nd and current Attorney General of the United States and the first African American to hold the position, serving under President Barack Obama....
. Furthermore, according to federal agents, while Dreamboard's servers were located in Louisiana, the site's top administrators were in France and Canada.
Operation Delego is ongoing.