In November 2022, FBI agents arrived at the home of William Spearman in Madison, Alabama, ready for a dangerous confrontation. Their mission was critical, with a search warrant personally approved by the FBI director.
When they used tactical explosives to break down Spearman’s door, he resisted, struggling with agents while trying to reach three handguns. However, the FBI was able to arrest him. Spearman, who went by the nickname “Boss,” was considered one of the world’s top distributors of child sexual abuse material.
A Major Takedown
Spearman’s arrest was part of a broader effort known as Operation Grayskull, which led to the arrest and conviction of at least 18 people involved in the dark web child exploitation network.
These criminals used secret online spaces to trade and distribute disturbing images and videos of child abuse. The Justice Department described this operation as one of the most significant of its kind.
The investigation began in 2020 when law enforcement noticed a huge increase in traffic to a dark web site suspected of hosting child abuse material. Over time, this site attracted more than 120,000 members, with millions of files being shared. One day alone, the site received over 100,000 visits, according to an FBI official.
The Dark Web’s Hidden Danger
Matthew Galeotti, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, described how difficult it is for many to understand just how widespread and disturbing this issue is, especially since it happens on the dark web, a part of the internet that is hidden and hard to track.
Spearman, like many others arrested in the operation, was accused of running one of these dark web sites. A sentencing memo showed that he was the lead administrator of the site, with his devices containing a massive collection of child abuse images and videos.
The Network of Dark Web Abusers
Spearman’s case was not an isolated one. In 2022, Selwyn Rosenstein was sentenced to 28 years for operating a dark website for child exploitation.
This site was described as a “community” where members contributed abusive material to gain or keep their membership. Rosenstein’s collection was so vast that he stored some of the images on a server he used for his business.
The members of these dark web sites often had to pay to join or contribute images of child abuse to keep their access. Fortunately, the FBI’s sophisticated agents and prosecutors were able to track down these people using advanced technology and digital forensics.
More Convictions and Closures
Other arrests made during Operation Grayskull included Matthew Garrell from Raleigh, North Carolina, who was sentenced to 20 years in prison. Garrell was found to have detailed instructions on how to groom children for abuse.
The operation also led to the convictions of men from across the U.S., including Virginia, Maryland, Texas, and Michigan.
The investigation didn’t just arrest these criminals; it also led to the shutdown of four dark web sites used for child exploitation. The FBI is celebrating the dismantling of these sites, with one official calling it a major victory in the fight against online child abuse.
A Big Win Against Online Child Exploitation
The Justice Department sees the takedown of these dark web sites as a significant win in preventing future abuse and the creation of harmful images.
Matthew Galeotti called it one of the most successful operations of its kind, explaining that these websites have not been able to come back online after being shut down. The operation not only resulted in arrests but also stopped the spread of disturbing child abuse material on the dark web.
