(Newser)
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Federal officials say they identified and rescued 18 minors who were the victims of child pornography, reports CNN. The month-long investigation resulted in nearly 200 arrests, mostly in the US but also in the UK, Argentina, the Philippines, and Spain. Many of the victims were apparently duped into striking up a relationship online, in some cases then meeting in person.
"Let this operation be a warning to anyone who would think they can use the Internet to exploit children: We are out there looking for you, we will find you, and you will be prosecuted," says John Morton, director of ICE, which worked with Homeland Security on the investigation. One of those arrested is a 35-year-old Louisiana man accused of making porn based on an assault of a 7-year-old, and the local Shreveport Times runs down that one and some of the other arrests.
