Attorney General Eric Holder says the Justice Department (USDOJ) has filed charges against 72 people for taking part in an " international criminal network dedicated to the sexual abuse of children and the creation and dissemination of graphic images and videos of child sexual abuse throughout the world."
The charges come from the USDOJ's Operation Delego, which was launched in December of 2009. The operation targeted an internet message board called "Dreamboard." The message board was members-only in order to avoid detection by law enforcement , and used encrypted links to further avoid detection according to the USDOJ . The board's administrators also required prospective members to upload child porn, when applying for membership, the investigators allege.
Investigators believe the people charged in the case encouraged the creation of new pictures and videos of child sexual abuse. The children seen in the pictures and videos were often 12-years-old and younger, according to the USDOJ . The USDOJ says 52 of the 72 people charged have been arrested.
"The members of this criminal network shared a demented dream to create the preeminent online community for the promotion of child sexual exploitation but for the children they victimized, this was nothing short of a nightmare," said Attorney General Holder , in a news release. "This operation marks another important step forward in our work to protect children across - and beyond - this country. Our nation's fight to protect the rights, interests, and safety of children goes on, and it will continue to be a top priority of this Justice Department ."
"The dismantling of Dreamboard is another stark warning to would-be child predators who think they can trade in child pornography and commit heinous acts against innocent children while hiding behind pseudonyms and other technological tricks," said ICE Director John Morton in the release.
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11:31 a.m.
United States Attorney General Eric Holder announced Wednesday morning, federal charges in a child porn 
WSLS has learned that Buena Vista High School football coach Matthew Wheeler , is among the group being charged in this case.
As WSLS first reported back on July 19th, Wheeler was arrested by agents with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and made an appearance in Roanoke Federal District Court back on July 18th. The charges concern an internet message board, on which investigators say child porn
Buena Vista Schools Superintendent Dr. Rebecca Gates told WSLS that she was notified by federal law enforcement of their intent to arrest a teacher on felonies. That teacher was suspended without pay, but Gates would not confirm that Wheeler was that teacher . The U.S. Marshal's Service confirmed to WSLS that Wheeler was picked up by ICE agents.
As of July 28th, Wheeler was no longer being held at the Roanoke City Jail . Marshals picked him up, but would not say where they were taking him .
The school system posted job openings at Parry McCluer High School for a head football coach and technology education teacher . Wheeler majored in technology education at Virginia Tech , according to his Facebook page, and he is listed as a technology teacher on a teacher rating website. This coming season was supposed to be Wheeler's first as Parry McCluer's head coach .
Attorney General Holder's news conference Wednesday coincided with the unsealing of court records in the case, which has been run out ofin U.S. District Courtin Louisiana .
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