June 14, 2011
CHICAGO (AFP) - An Illinois man caught in an international pedophile sting was sentenced to 40 years in jail for sexually molesting an infant during an online live video stream, US prosecutors said Tuesday.
Brian Annorneo, 35, was among more than two dozen pedophiles caught after undercover officers were able to infiltrate a private online chat room used to trade thousands of abusive images and videos.
"Our investigators took aggressive action to target Brian Annorneo and take down the international network he was a part of that shockingly molested children 'on demand' for others to request and view in secure video chat rooms," said John Morton, director of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
"We are grateful for the support we received from our exceptional global law enforcement partners in Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom to dismantle this international conspiracy that targeted children."
Annorneo, who molested the infant in 2005, has been in custody since his January 2006 arrest.
He pleaded guilty in December to one count each of conspiracy to receive, transmit and advertise child pornography, receiving child pornography, and possessing child pornography.
Annorneo, who used the screen name "Acidburn," admitted to participating in an Internet chat room known as "Kiddypics & Kiddyvids" which allowed users to engage in peer-to-peer file sharing.
The chat room was hosted by a Tennessee man until he was arrested in 2006, at which point an Iowa man took over the administration of the site until the sting shut it down.
Three other US participants were sentenced to 12, 14, and 20 years in prison in 2008.
