US arrests 79 people linked to global pedophile gang busted after high-profile 2021 murders of two FBI agents in Florida: Australian agents detain 19 others, rescue 13 children
- A global pedophile gang has been busted by Australian police two years after a member of the network killed two FBI agents in a gunfight in 2021
- Officials announced on Tuesday that 79 men have been arrested in the US and 43 convicted in connection with the global dark web network
- Police and FBI close in after two US agents were killed while executing a search warrant at member’s Florida home
Australian police have shut down an international pedophile ring two years after a member of the network killed two FBI agents in a gunfight in Florida.
Officials announced on Tuesday that 79 men in the US have been arrested and 43 convicted in connection with the global dark web group sharing sick abuse videos.
Police in Australia have also charged a further 19 men for 138 offenses and 13 children have been ‘defused’, including some who have been ‘directly abused’.
The international investigation was launched after FBI special agents Daniel Alfin, 36, and Laura Schwartzenberger, 43, were killed in February 2021 while executing a search warrant at the home of suspected pedophile David Lee Huber, 55.
Huber, a divorced father of two, shot the officers with a rifle and then turned the gun on himself.
The international investigation was launched after FBI special agents Daniel Alfin, 36, and Laura Schwartzenberger, 43, were killed in February 2021 while executing a search warrant at the home of suspected pedophile David Lee Huber, 55
Huber, a divorced father of two, shot the officers with a rifle and then turned the gun on himself. He was a member of a pedophile ring that traced the FBI to Australia
The pedophile ring could be traced back to Australia, and officials there worked closely with the FBI to shut it down. Most of the 19 Australian suspects – men aged between 32 and 81 – “were employed in occupations that required a high degree of ICT knowledge,” police said.
Members used software to anonymously share files, chat on bulletin boards and access websites within the network, the Australian Federal Police said.
“Network members were able to search for and distribute images and videos of child abuse material and reportedly used encryption and other methods to avoid detection by law enforcement.”
FBI legal attaché Nitiana Mann said: ‘We are proud of our long-standing relationship with the Australian Federal Police, which has brought criminal charges to 19 Australian men as a result of our joint investigation.
“Due to the complexity and anonymity of these platforms, no single agency or country can combat these threats alone.
Pictured is one of 19 Australian men charged in connection with a global pedophile ring
Two of the phones seized by the AFP in connection with the pedophile gang, for which two men have been convicted so far
Computer equipment was seized by police and the AFP said most of the Australian men charged had hi-tech jobs in communications or IT
“As we continue to build bridges through collaboration and teamwork, we can ensure that the good guys win and the bad guys lose.”
Australian detective Linda Howlett said: ‘If you choose to offend children, it’s only a matter of time before the police come knocking on your door.
“Together with our law enforcement counterparts, we will continue to use every available force to put those who prey on children behind bars.”
The police behind the massive investigation, called Operation Bakis, found videos of a suspect assaulting a toddler. Exactly one year after the murder of the FBI agents, he was robbed.
Police said his hard drives contained 16,000 files from 800 child victims. He also carried a ‘pedophile handbook’ with instructions on how to deal with the police if caught.