Joseph Hines, Child Pornography Distribution, Arizona 2010

An Arizona man was sentenced to seven years in prison for his role in an international child pornography ring, federal authorities announced.

Joseph Hines, 24, of Tempe, Arizona, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Virginia A. Phillips on December 2010, for one count of conspiracy to solicit child pornography.

The sentencing is the result of an international investigation into the ‘Lost Boy’ online bulletin board, which was dedicated to men who have a sexual interest in young boys and was established to provide a forum to trade child pornography.

According to court documents, the Lost Boy bulletin board had a thorough vetting process for new members, who were required to post child pornography to join the organization. Once accepted, members were required to continue posting child pornography to remain in good standing and to avoid removal from the board.

The investigation into the Lost Boy bulletin board was led by the FBI and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, in conjunction with the Los Angeles-based Sexual Assault Felony Enforcement (SAFE) Team. The High Technology Investigative Unit of the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) in the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, along with Eurojust, have provided invaluable assistance during the investigation.

The case is one of several high-profile child pornography cases in recent years, and highlights the global nature of the problem. International law enforcement efforts have identified child molestation suspects in South America, Europe and New Zealand, and have led to the identification of dozens of child victims located in Norway, Romania, Brazil and other nations.

Hines was one of 16 named defendants charged in the United States in connection with the case. To date, 15 defendants have pleaded guilty or have been convicted at trial, and one defendant died in custody.

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