Child Pornography & Immigration Rings

A federal grand jury in Pensacola, Fla. returned a 35-count indictment against 12 men involved in a criminal scheme involving the advertisement, transportation and shipment of child pornography. Since August 2006, the men reportedly participated in a scheme to spread child sex abuse images to the group’s members, who via Internet newsgroups and file-sharing networks, obtained illegal images and videos showing prepubescent children, including toddlers, engaged in sexual and sadistic acts.

A federal grand jury indicted 12 people for their roles in an alien smuggling ring called the “three Franciscos” that brought illegal aliens to the Los Angeles area for up to $5,600 per person, for the American part of their trip. Since the middle of 2004, the ring is suspected of transporting about 5,400 illegal aliens, using two drop houses, where the individuals, usually from Mexico, Central America and South America, are held until they pay. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is cracking down on activities in Phoenix, Arizona, after recently locating another drop house, where another 50 aliens were being held. In one week, the government unit said it arrested more than 600 aliens in Phoenix.