Child pornography on the internet.
The FBI announces a major crackdown, with dozens of arrests nationwide, and more expected soon--
some of those in Utah.
"Every time an image is reviewed, you're re-victimizing that child," says FBI "Candyman" Utah case agent Scott Snyder.
The crime itself is disturbing-- thousands of people circulating pictures of children in sexual situations.
Also disturbing are the criminals themselves, ordinary citizens, many of them in positions of trust.
News Specialist John Hollenhorst has more.
Investigators say it used to be tough for pedophiles to get their hands on child porn. Now it's easy, with a computer.
The FBI has cracked a ring, using their own computers to track them down. It's the so-called Candyman Group.
The FBI and the Attorney General announced the arrest of 80 people. Many of them hold positions of trust, such as priests and police officers. Many are part of the 7,000 member Candyman ring, people who use their computers to swap child porn images by E-mail and swap information through Internet chatrooms.
Scott Snyder is the FBI's Candyman case agent in Utah. He expects six arrests here once the investigation is complete. And he says child porn is not a victimless crime.
"You work enough of these type cases, you see the victimization. You see the trauma these children go through. The long-term effects on these kids is just tremendous," he says.
All the pending Candyman cases in Utah involve possession of child porn, not actual production of the images.
But Snyder says there have been previous arrests in which Utahns have persuaded or tricked children into being photographed in sexual situations.
Investigators say this is a big problem and a steadily growing one in Utah and elsewhere.
The Attorney General predicts more arrests nationwide.
