Man arrested in Wash. for child pornography linked to Bloomington

A man living in Washington state was arrested on charges related to a Bloomington child pornography ring, the U.S. Attorney for southern Indiana Joseph Hogsett said in a prepared statement.

A child pornography distribution and production ring was broken up in Bloomington late last year.

The investigation involved a coordinated effort between Bloomington and Monroe County law enforcement, the Indiana State Police and the FBI.

The suspected leader of that group, which distributed emails containing graphic sexual content involving very young children to thousands of people, plead guilty last month.

Most of the illegal content was filmed in Bloomington and involved several local young children. The leader of the group would befriend the parents of the children to gain access to their children.

Nicholas King, 28, a resident of Bellingham, Wash., and Alvarado, Texas, was arrested for being one of the recipients of the emails containing child pornography and for aiding in their distribution.

He has been formally charged with conspiracy to distribute and receive child pornography.

He faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

King was captured and charged as part of the international operation to apprehend those involved with the Bloomington-based child pornography ring.
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We will not rest until we have done everything we can do to end the continuing victimization of these Hoosier children,” Hogsett said in a written statement.

— Zach Ammerman