Couple Guilty in Net Child Porn Case

F O R T H  W O R T H, Texas, Dec. 2, 2000 -- A couple convicted of running what authoritiescalled one of the largest child pornography Web sites in the worldhave vowed to appeal a jury’s ruling that they are guilty on nearly90 counts.

Jurors deliberated eight hours before returning guilty verdictsFriday against Thomas and Janice Reedy and their home-basedcompany, Landslide Inc., which netted more than $1 million between1997 and 1999.

The Reedys’ business gave paying subscribers passwords to enterWeb sites containing graphic pictures and videos of childrenengaging in sex acts with adults and with each other.

The Fort Worth couple and three foreign Web site operators wereindicted in April after an investigation by the FBI, Postal Serviceand Customs Service. Charges included sexual exploitation ofminors, distribution of child pornography and conspiracy.

Facing 20 Years in Prison

Jurors on Friday found Janice Reedy, 32, innocent of one countof possession of child pornography but convicted her on all othercounts. Thomas Reedy, 37, and their company were found guilty onall 89 counts.

The Reedys face from 20 years to life in prison. A sentencingdate has not been set.

Also indicted were R.W. Kusuma and Hanny Ingganata of Indonesiaand Boris Greenberg of Russia, who prosecutors say launched thesites. They said the Reedys served as a link between pedophiles andthe Web site operators.

The Reedys maintained their innocence, saying they thought theWeb sites contained only adult porn. They said the company verifiedthat customers were adults and made sure children could not gainaccess to the sites.

Authorities said the couple had an international clientele ofmore than 300,000 subscribers who paid from $14.95 to $29.95 amonth, and that the Reedys kept 40 percent of the profits whilegiving the Web site operators 60 percent.