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Life Sentence for Dreamboard Member
A Wisconsin man was sentenced to life in prison for his role in an international child exploitation network known as Dreamboard, which was dedicated to the sexual abuse of children and the creation and dissemination of graphic images and videos of child sexual abuse.
55-year-old John Wyss, also known as ‘Bones,’ was found guilty after a four-day jury trial of one count of engaging in a child exploitation enterprise, one count of conspiracy to advertise child pornography, and one count of conspiracy to distribute child pornography.
According to court documents, Wyss was an active member of Dreamboard since January 2008 and had made numerous postings revealing that he had produced child pornography by capturing images of minors engaging in sexually explicit activity via webcam, including one video in which adult males were engaged in sexual intercourse with prepubescent girls.
Operation Delego, an ongoing investigation launched in December 2009, targeted individuals around the world for their participation in Dreamboard. A total of 72 individuals have been charged as a result of the operation, with 56 arrested in the United States and abroad.
Wyss is the third defendant to receive a life sentence, with 40 of the 43 individuals who have pleaded guilty for their roles in the conspiracy receiving prison sentences ranging between 15 years and life in prison. Thirteen of the 72 charged individuals remain at large and are known only by their online identities.
The international group, Dreamboard, prized and encouraged the creation of new images and videos of child sexual abuse, and members employed measures to conceal their criminal activity from detection by law enforcement. The operation represents the largest prosecution to date in the United States of individuals who participated in an online bulletin board conceived and operated for the sole purpose of promoting child sexual abuse.
Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer, U.S. Attorney Stephanie Finley, and Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) John Morton announced the sentencing, which marks a significant milestone in the fight against child exploitation.
Key Facts
- State: Wisconsin
- Category: Sex Crimes|Cybercrime|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release ↗
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