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Child Porn Crackdown Pulls in 90

East Texas man, 7 area residents among those held

By Rosanna Ruiz
Originally published in the Houston Chronicle, March 19, 2002

A Palestine man accused of heading an Internet child pornography operation was arrested along with 89 accused subscribers, including seven Houston-area residents, in a nationwide crackdown, the FBI said Monday. Fifty more arrests are expected by the week’s end, the FBI said today.

U.S. Attorney Michael Shelby said Mark Bates, 32, is charged with conspiracy and transport of child pornography and is said to be the ringleader of an electronic newsgroup known as “The Candyman.”

“The images of exploited children that the subscribers downloaded or exchanged “were absolutely appalling in the depth of their depravity,” he said.

“These children,” Shelby said, “are not sexual objects. They were not put here for the sexual gratification of adults.”

Bates’ newsgroup attracted 7,000 U.S. users and subscribers and 2,400 overseas, authorities said.

Newsgroups allow users to communicate with others on a particular subject, such as sports or travel, using e-mail and dedicated Web sites.

Many of those arrested are described as people holding positions of trust with frequent contact with children, including two Catholic priests, a teacher’s aide, a guidance counselor, a school bus driver, a foster care parent and military and law enforcement officials.

The FBI’s 14-month investigation, called Operation Candyman, involved all 56 national field offices. Attorney General John Ashcroft said 27 members of Bates’ newsgroup who were arrested admitted molesting 36 children.

The FBI also has begun to investigate similar newsgroups that involve child pornography.

“It is clear that a new marketplace for child pornography has emerged in the dark corners of cyberspace,” Ashcroft said.

“These offenders have tried to use technology and anonymity of the Internet to trade child pornography, and these individuals must be stopped.”

Bates, according to an indictment, invited subscribers to join the Candyman newsgroup with the message, “This group is for People who love kids. You can post any type of messages you like to or any type of pics and vids you like, too … “

Bates also is accused of distributing a survey asking subscribers whether they wanted to see more boys or girls, of what ages, and whether they preferred “more actions” or “soft pics.”

Those arrested Monday did not innocently stumble upon the discussion group, Shelby said.

He identified the seven area defendants as Walter Fitzpatrick, 61, of Liverpool, a warehouse employee; Robert Froman, 49, of Pasadena, a bunkhouse manager; Stephen Michael Johnston, 21, of College Station, a college student; Hector Ezeta, 38, of Houston, a bank vice president; Jayson Anderson, 28, of Baytown, a retail employee; Billy Loyd White, 45, of Channelview, a mechanic; and James Christopher Tinney, 20, of Katy, a college student.

Bates could get 15 years in prison if convicted. The seven from Houston, charged with receipt and possession of child pornography, could each get five years in prison.

Rick Mosquera, special agent in charge of the Houston FBI office, said an Internet service provider based in Palo Alto, Calif., provided information that led investigators to Bates.

The investigation, which involves the FBI’s Houston Child Exploitation Task Force that includes Houston police, is ongoing, and more arrests are likely.

Michael Wynne, an assistant U.S. attorney, said 7,200 people accessed the Web site, and 6,200 of them subscribed to the service.

“It’s our intention to identify as many as those as possible,” he said.