Operation Grayskull: Inside the DOJ’s Largest Takedown of Its Kind
The Department of Justice has confirmed the sweeping success of Operation Grayskull—a multi-agency investigation that resulted in the elimination of four dark web platforms dedicated to the distribution of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
The announcement came Monday from high-ranking officials, including FBI Director Kash Patel and Attorney General Pam Bondi, marking what they described as a watershed moment in online child exploitation enforcement.
A Years-Long Investigation Comes to Light
Spanning multiple countries and several years of quiet intelligence gathering, Operation Grayskull culminated in:
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18 successful convictions in the United States
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Sentences ranging from 6 years to life in prison
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Arrests made across eight countries, including the U.S., UK, Netherlands, Italy, Germany, Estonia, Belgium, and South Africa
“This wasn’t just about shutting down a few sites,” said Patel. “It was about dismantling a network with over 120,000 users, hiding behind encryption, and thinking they’d never be found. They were wrong.”
The Scope: Bigger Than Anyone Realized
One of the most disturbing aspects of Operation Grayskull was the scale and organization of the platforms. According to FBI officials, the dark web hubs operated with corporate-like structure:
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Moderators
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Hierarchies
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Rules for posting content
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Bans for “violations” of internal guidelines
Some of the forums reportedly encouraged the use of high-level encryption, secure communication channels, and anonymized servers to evade law enforcement—until now.
Landmark Sentences Handed Down
Among those convicted was Thomas Peter Katsampes, 52, of Eagan, Minnesota. Katsampes was sentenced to:
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250 months in prison (20+ years)
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Lifetime supervised release
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$23,000 in restitution
Katsampes had not only consumed and distributed CSAM, but had risen to become a moderator, actively instructing others on how to access and share illegal content.
In the Southern District of Florida alone, eight men received major sentences, including:
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Selwyn David Rosenstein (Boynton Beach, FL) — 28 years
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Gregory Malcolm Good (Silver Springs, NV) — 25 years, 10 months
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William Michael Spearman (Madison, AL) — Life in prison
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Keith David McIntosh (Grand Rapids, MI) — 55 years
Others received between 6 and 23 years. Two additional suspects reportedly died before charges could be brought.
Global Reach
International arrests were coordinated with law enforcement agencies overseas, underscoring the transnational nature of the networks involved. While identities have not been publicly released, DOJ sources confirmed extradition requests and active trials in multiple jurisdictions.
Pam Bondi, who leads the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), praised the collaboration:
“What we dismantled here was not a site—it was a machine. And this operation made sure that machine is offline for good.”
A Warning Sent Loud and Clear
Federal officials have not been shy about the broader message this operation sends. Kash Patel, addressing reporters directly, said:
“You cannot hide behind anonymity to harm children. We will find you. No VPN, no encryption, no dark corner of the web will protect you.”
He called the four platforms “some of the most egregious” child abuse hubs ever uncovered. According to the DOJ:
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Some sites featured dedicated forums for infants and toddlers
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Others contained footage involving extreme violence, sadism, and torture
Each platform received over 100,000 daily visits, and some had been active for years—growing in secrecy, until now.
Project Safe Childhood: A Long Game
Operation Grayskull is the latest victory under Project Safe Childhood, a DOJ initiative launched in 2006. The project brings together federal prosecutors, state and local law enforcement, and international partners to track down online predators.
Officials say additional arrests are expected in the coming weeks as seized servers are combed for further evidence.
Public Reassurance—and a Promise
U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne (Southern District of Florida) had a final message for the public:
“Let this be a warning. If you participate in this, if you profit from this, if you even enable this—you will be found. We will never stop.”
