There could also be greater than 900 victims of a person who ran a pornographic web site that allegedly marketed and offered youngster porn and different grownup content material that was obtained illegally, the FBI stated.
Kyle White, in any other case often known as “THZ Admin” on Telegram, allegedly ran a web based porn alternate often known as “The Ho Zone” — that includes ladies subjected to blackmail, well-known feminine athletes who have been hacked, and revenge porn victims, prosecutors and federal legislation enforcement companies have stated.
White, 24, was arrested in Jan. 2024 and charged with promoting, receiving and distributing youngster pornography. Federal prosecutors alleged that White, of Kentucky, “marketed and offered youngster pornography on ‘The Ho Zone,’ which depicted minor victims as younger as 11 years previous, in addition to minor victims participating in sexually specific conduct with their minor sufferer siblings.”
The prison criticism alleged that White instructed somebody on Telegram that he made greater than $300,000 the primary 12 months operating his web site.
“White’s alleged conduct is abhorrent and wicked,” U.S. Lawyer Damian Williams stated in a earlier assertion.
On Tuesday, the FBI stated they have been trying to determine additional victims of White’s and The Ho Zone, believing there to be greater than 900 folks victimized. That features social media and TikTok influencers, NCAA and semi-professional athletes, actresses, fashions and OnlyFans creators.
White and the web site additionally went after victims of blackmail and sextortion, revenge porn, cellphone hacks or leaks, and ladies victimized by “sugar daddy” schemes, the FBI stated in a launch.
The illicit materials, which included sexually specific materials of minors and non-consenting adults, was collected and shared from Sept. 2022 via Dec. 2023, in accordance with legislation enforcement.
Those that consider they have been victimized, or might know of victims, are requested to go to the FBI web site and supply data by filling out a kind.
Tom Winter and Rebecca Cohen of NBC Information contributed to this report.