Feds Arrest 7 California Men In Child Porn Case

August 20, 2008 8:30 a.m. EST

Los Angeles, CA (AHN) - Authorities on Tuesday arrested seven Southland men allegedly part of a 55-man group who were suspected of possessing or producing computer child pornography. The arrests were a result of an eight-month federal investigation.

Thomas O'Brien told a news conference, "The evidence is horrific," and added the suspects used peer-to-peer Internet Web sites like Limewire to exchange images and videos involving children, some as young as babies.

This was also the first time federal and local enforcement agencies extensively investigated peer-to-peer users that share child pornography.

All 55 suspects lived in Los Angeles and Southern California counties at the time of their arrests.

The men could face up to 10 years imprisonment if found guilty of the charges against them.