U.S. and international authorities have charged 27 people in connection with an online child pornography enterprise, federal authorities said Wednesday.
Those charged were participants in an online chat room that included streaming video of live child molestation, the Justice Department said.
Investigators said they identified seven children who were molested on video seen in the Kiddypics & Kiddyvids chat room. Four molesters are among those charged, prosecutors said.
In recent days, federal agents have made arrests in Arizona, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Michigan, Nevada, New York, North Carolina and Tennessee.
Thirteen people have been indicted in the United States on charges that include possession, receipt, distribution and manufacture of child pornography.
The other 14 have been charged in Australia, Canada and Great Britain. One person remains at large. The investigation began in Canada.
Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, joined by other U.S. and Canadian officials, was announcing details of the charges at a news conference Wednesday in Chicago.
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency led the U.S. investigation.
Gonzales has said the Justice Department would focus on crimes against children and online pornography.






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