Russia, U.S. Shut Down Child-Porn Ring on Web

In a joint operation, the United States and Russia have shut down a Moscow-based international pornography ring that used the Internet to sell videotapes of children engaged in sexual acts, authorities said Monday.

Law enforcement officials arrested nine people, including four in the United States, and issued 15 search warrants--two in Southern California--as a result of the investigation by the U.S. Customs Service and Moscow city police.

The probe was dubbed Operation Blue Orchid, after the studio in Russia where many of the videotapes were made. A Web site of the same name allegedly advertised the tapes, which were distributed through the mail. Most of the tapes, which cost between $200 and $300, were shipped to the U.S., authorities said.

“There is no crime more revolting to law enforcement officials than the sexual exploitation of children,” said Acting U.S. Customs Commissioner Charles Winwood.

The prevalence of child pornography has increased dramatically with the growth of the Internet. There are approximately 100,000 Web sites worldwide associated with child pornography, authorities said.

“Child pornography is the biggest illicit business on the Internet,” said Kevin Delli-Colli, director of the U.S. Customs Service’s CyberSmuggling Center in Fairfax, Va.

Most Web sites associated with child pornography offer options of downloading and exchanging digital pictures for free or for a fee, authorities said.

But the Blue Orchid site--which was shut down in December--promoted and sold its own videos, officials said.

Blue Orchid customers would first wire cash to Russia, then e-mail the Web site with instructions on where to ship the video.

The videotapes were often disguised in National Geographic video sleeves and featured a brief introduction of an actual National Geographic film before pornographic scenes would appear.

The company also offered custom-made videos for $5,000, officials said.

The investigation began in May, when Russian officials asked U.S. Customs officials to go undercover and purchase one of the videos in a sting operation. That led to the arrest of Vsevolod Solntsev-Elbe, who officials said ran the site. Elbe was arrested while he was with a 13-year-old boy whom he allegedly brought to Moscow from a destitute Russian town for the purpose of sexual exploitation.

Russian officials seized more than 400 videotapes, video duplication equipment, and sales transaction and shipping records from Elbe’s apartment. Police arrested four other alleged operators, one of whom later committed suicide, officials said.

U.S. officials obtained the seized records and identified suspects in the United States who allegedly had ordered Blue Orchid videotapes. The 15 search warrants were issued for cities across the country, including Santa Barbara and San Diego.

The first U.S. arrest was that of Glenn Martikean, who was taken into custody in January after a search of his Portage, Ind., home uncovered videotapes, computer files and other documents related to child pornography, authorities said.

Martikean was indicted last week on charges of importing child pornography and interstate and foreign travel to engage in sexual activity with minors. The latter charge stems from a trip Martikean made to Russia.

Police also arrested Derek Lochiatto of Malden, Mass., who allegedly tried to buy videos from Blue Orchid. Lochiatto appeared in federal court Monday on charges of possessing child pornography obtained at other Web sites. He was released on a $10,000 unsecured bond pending an April 18 hearing.

A third arrest was made in late February in Moriches, N.Y., when a search uncovered more than 200 videotapes, some from Blue Orchid, in the home of Melvin Clay Sr. He faces charges of knowingly and intentionally receiving child pornography from overseas.

Officials did not identify the fourth person arrested in the United States.