Operation Grayskull: A Landmark Global Takedown of Dark Web Child Exploitation Networks

Executive Summary

Operation Grayskull represents one of the most significant law enforcement victories against online child exploitation, resulting in the dismantling of four major dark web sites dedicated to child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and the conviction of 18 offenders who have collectively received over 300 years in federal prison. This joint operation between the U.S. Department of Justice and the FBI, announced on July 23, 2025, demonstrates the global reach and effectiveness of coordinated international law enforcement efforts against internet-based crimes against children.

Operation Overview

Scope and Impact

Operation Grayskull successfully dismantled four dark web sites dedicated to images and videos containing child sexual abuse material. These websites were among the most egregious on the dark web, featuring sections specifically dedicated to infants and toddlers, as well as depictions of violence, sadism, and torture.

The operation's reach extended far beyond U.S. borders. The FBI arrested 19 subjects in the United States and, working with international partners, helped coordinate additional arrests in seven more countries. International arrests were made in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Italy, Germany, Estonia, Belgium, and South Africa.

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Sophisticated Criminal Enterprise

The websites contained detailed advice on how to avoid detection by law enforcement, including the use of sophisticated technologies. The criminal networks operated with structured hierarchies, where website leaders advertised and distributed CSAM, enforced rules, held staff meetings, recruited members to serve as staff, and maintained website servers.

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Key Convictions and Sentences

Primary Site Leadership (Southern District of Florida)

The main site targeted by Operation Grayskull was operated by a sophisticated criminal organization. Nine individuals have been convicted and sentenced in the Southern District of Florida for their involvement in running the primary site:

Thomas Peter Katsampes (Eagan, Minnesota)

• Sentenced to 250 months (over 20 years) in prison with lifetime supervised release
• Ordered to pay $23,000 in restitution
• Rose from user to staff position, moderating the site and advising users on posting CSAM

William Michael Spearman (Madison, Alabama)

• Sentenced to life in prison
• Ordered to pay $123,400 in restitution
• Convicted of engaging in a child exploitation enterprise

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Keith David McIntosh (Grand Rapids, Michigan)

• Sentenced to 55 years in prison
• Convicted as a repeat offender with prior conviction for possession of child pornography

Joseph Addison Martin (Tahuya, Washington)

• Sentenced to 42 years in prison and ordered to pay $174,500 in restitution

Selwyn David Rosenstein (Boynton Beach, Florida)

• Sentenced to 28 years in prison and ordered to pay $80,500 in restitution

Additional Convictions Nationwide

Nine additional individuals have been convicted for their involvement with these websites in other judicial districts around the country, including:

• Charles Hand (Aberdeen, Maryland): 14 years in federal prison
• Clay Trimble (Fordyce, Arkansas): 18 years in prison
• Samuel Hicks (Fort Wayne, Indiana): 16 years in prison
• Michael Ibarra (Wenatchee, Washington): 12 years in prison
• David Craig (Houston, Texas): 9 years in prison
• Robert Rella (Chesapeake, Virginia): 5 years and 8 months in prison

International Cooperation

The success of Operation Grayskull underscores the critical importance of international law enforcement cooperation. The FBI's cybercrime operation highlighted the importance of collaboration across borders, as resources from multiple countries played critical roles in identifying and prosecuting offenders.

Broader Context: Project Safe Childhood

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. The initiative marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet while identifying and rescuing victims.

Leadership Statements

FBI Director Kash Patel

"This operation represents one of the most significant strikes ever made against online child exploitation networks. We've not only dismantled dangerous platforms on the dark web, but we've also brought key perpetrators to justice and delivered a powerful message: you cannot hide behind anonymity to harm children."

Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti

"Today's announcement sends a clear warning to those who exploit and abuse children: you will not find safe haven, even on the dark web. These offenders thought that they could act without consequences, but they were wrong."

U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O'Byrne

"Thomas Peter Katsampes and his co-conspirators ran some of the darkweb's most heinous networks, enabling horrific crimes against innocent victims, but Operation Grayskull has shut these sites down and delivered justice."

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Investigative Methodology

The operation was led by the FBI's Child Exploitation Operational Unit and Miami Field Office, West Palm Beach Resident Agency. Substantial assistance was provided by FBI Field Offices and Resident Agencies across multiple states and the Justice Department's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section.

Significance and Impact

Operation Grayskull represents a watershed moment in the fight against online child exploitation. The operation demonstrates several key successes:

1. Technological Sophistication: Law enforcement successfully penetrated and dismantled sophisticated dark web networks that employed advanced anonymization technologies.
2. International Coordination: The global scope of arrests shows effective international law enforcement cooperation across multiple jurisdictions.
3. Comprehensive Prosecution: The range of sentences, from several years to life imprisonment, reflects the serious nature of these crimes and the justice system's commitment to protecting children.
4. Deterrent Effect: Many of these perpetrators had no prior criminal records and were people known and trusted in their communities: neighbors, colleagues, even family members, highlighting that online predators can be anyone and that law enforcement can identify and prosecute them regardless of their apparent respectability.

Ongoing Efforts

Two other individuals in the United States died before being charged for their involvement with the websites, and additional cases may still be pending. The success of Operation Grayskull reinforces the ongoing commitment of law enforcement agencies worldwide to combat child exploitation and demonstrates that even the most sophisticated criminal networks operating in the dark corners of the internet cannot escape justice.

This operation serves as both a victory for victims and their families and a stark warning to those who would exploit children: law enforcement agencies have the tools, expertise, and international cooperation necessary to track down and prosecute offenders, regardless of the technologies they use to hide their crimes.