3 sentenced in Montana to lengthy federal prison sentences for conspiracy to advertise child pornography on web-based bulletin board

HELENA, Mont. — Three defendants were sentenced in Montana this week for their roles in an international child pornography web-based bulletin board that was targeted by state and federal investigators and prosecutors participating in “Operation Moon Runner.”

These sentences were announced by Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell of the Justice Department's Criminal Division, and U.S. Attorney Michael W. Cotter of the District of Montana.

This investigation, referred to as Operation Moon Runner, is an ongoing cooperative effort between the following agencies:  Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section; FBI; Montana Department of Criminal Investigations; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); the Montana police departments of Helena and Polson; Montana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force; and the Northumbria Police Department in the United Kingdom.

Daniel Brown, 26, of Taylor, South Carolina, was sentenced May 14 to 180 months in prison after a jury convicted him of conspiracy to advertise child pornography.  On May 15, 2015, John Merchberger, 48, of Dayton, Maine, was sentenced to 220 months in prison and Marc Edoria, 24, of Elk Grove, California, was sentenced to 180 months in prison.  Chief U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen of the District of Montana imposed the sentences.

According to court documents, the board was created in September 2011 and specialized in the advertising, distributing and receiving child pornography.  The board was broken up into sub-forums where members were required to post images that corresponded to specific child pornography studios or topics such as webcams or candid photographs.  The rules of the board required members to post images of minor females once every certain number of weeks.  Failure to post images within the required time period resulted in suspension from the board.  The board permitted members to leave comments and to request more images of child pornography from board members.

According to admissions made in connection to their guilty pleas, Merchberger assisted in running the board at various times. Edoria was an advanced member of the board.  According to evidence presented at trial, Brown was also an advanced member of the board.  All three defendants posted notices and ads of child pornography on the board, along with images of children being sexually abused.

Trial Attorney Maureen C. Cain of the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Cyndee L. Peterson of the District of Montana, prosecuted this case.

This investigation was conducted under HSI's Operation Predator, an international initiative to protect children from sexual predators. Since the launch of Operation Predator in 2003, HSI has arrested more than 10,000 individuals for crimes against children, including the production and distribution of online child pornography, traveling overseas for sex with minors, and sex trafficking of children. In fiscal year 2014, more than 2,300 individuals were arrested by HSI special agents under this initiative and more than 1,000 victims identified or rescued.

HSI encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free Tip Line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE or by completing its online tip form. Both are staffed around the clock by investigators. From outside the U.S. and Canada, callers should dial 802-872-6199. Hearing impaired users can call TTY 802-872-6196. Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, an Operation Predator partner, via its toll-free 24-hour hotline, 1-800-THE-LOST.

For additional information about wanted suspected child predators, download HSI's Operation Predator smartphone app or visit the online suspect alerts page.

HSI is a founding member and current chair of the Virtual Global Taskforce, an international alliance of law enforcement agencies and private industry sector partners working together to prevent and deter online child sexual abuse.