Forty-seven men were snared this week in Southern California amid a US nationwide sweep targeting possession and distribution of Internet child porn, authorities here said Wednesday.
Michael Drake, 40, of Orange, made his initial appearance in federal court in Santa Ana earlier in the day on charges of possessing and distributing child pornography over the Internet, according to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials.
Investigators said the salesman exchanged child porn over the Internet with two men who sexually exploited their own children.
Drake is accused of emailing sexually explicit images of children to an undercover police officer in Florida posing as one of Drake's former contacts, according to ICE.
Two dozen other area men -- the majority from Orange County -- face federal child porn possession or distribution charges in connection with the sweep, according to the US Attorney's Office.
Nine of those have agreed to plead guilty to possessing child pornography, prosecutors said.
In addition to those facing criminal charges, ICE agents in Orange County took 22 convicted sex offenders into custody for alleged immigration violations, ICE said, adding that those men may face deportation.
The arrests were part of the ongoing national campaign, called Operation Predator, which targeted online child pornography as well as criminals who prey on children.
The US Attorney in Los Angeles Debra Yang said the sweep will bring some justice to the numerous and unfortunate children who have been exploited for sexual purposes.
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