Massachusetts Pedophile Sentenced to 7 Years in Prison

~2 min read | Published on 2020-03-08, tagged Child-AbusePedophileSentenced using 422 words.

A 51-year-old from Chicopee, Massachusetts, was sentenced to seven years in federal prison for receipt and possession of child pornography. The defendant reportedly acquired thousands of child abuse images from the now-defunct darkweb forum “Playpen.”
According to an announcement by United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling, Victor Stepus, 51, was sentenced to seven years in prison and 10 years of supervised release by U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni for receipt and possession of child pornography. Stepus acquired the child abuse content from the darkweb forum Playpen.
The investigation that led to Stepus’ arrest was part of Operation Pacifier and coordinated by the FBI in cooperation with other law enforcement agencies worldwide. The operation took place in early 2015 after the seizure of Playpen’s server and arrest of its three admins. The seizure and arrests were facilitated by the leak of Playpen’s IP address.

The FBI released a graphic with Operation Pacifier stats



Playpen’s creator and lead admin, Steven W. Chase, 61, of Naples, Florida, was sentenced to 30 years in prison and a lifetime term of supervised release in May 2017. Chase was also ordered to was ordered to forfeit his residence in Naples. The other two admins–Michael Fluckiger, 46, of Portland, Indiana, and David Lynn Browning, 47, of Wooton, Kentucky–were each sentenced to 20 years in prison and a lifetime term of supervised release.
After seizing Playpen’s servers, the FBI continued to run the site for 13 days in 2015 from February 20 to March 4. During the operation, the FBI hacked the computers of those who visited the site. The FBI uncovered more than 1,000 IP addresses and other identifying information by hacking the electronic devices of Playpen users who had accessed the site. The information was then distributed to FBI field offices, shared with other law enforcement agencies, and used to track down the site’s users. The information led to 350 arrests in the US and 870 worldwide.
In Stepus’ case the FBI used the information acquired from his electronic devices to obtain a search warrant that was executed in late August 2015. The search resulted in in the seizure of his personal computer that contained over 8,000 images and 33 videos depicting the abuse of children. Stepus was subsequently arrested and admitted that for several years he had used his PC to access and download the illegal content up to three times per week.
On November 22, 2019, Stepus pleaded guilty to three counts of receipt of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography in the federal court in Springfield.

Comments (20)


frosty2020-03-08
53af87d0

Dude thought that he would be safe but was still busted nearly 5 years after the bust lol

WUTY2020-03-09
239dcbc0

So was this Stepus guy one of the original people who's charges were dropped when the FBI declined to release info on their NIT for the court cases? That's all I recall about those many busts. Many cases were dropped because the FBI values secrecy too highly.

fucking faggots2020-03-09
0c8857e0

dedicate onion for faggot pedophiles and put info pedophiles don't change they deserve lessons with brass

hate pedos2020-03-09
8ba4c670

what kinda monster would do this...I hope he gets shanked in prison

indaknow2020-03-09
8c734d20

he will be sentenced to federal prison, where he will be tormented by every person in there, or he will do all 7 years in solitary., he will Pay the Price. you molest a kid, you get the green light.

windows only?2020-03-09
9af831c0

Wasn't this exploid for windows only?

lonezombie2020-03-09
022e4f40

He's most likely gonna be murdered in prison and deserves it too.

uhh2020-03-10
7782b1d0

Deserves to get murdered... for possession? Do you really believe that?

Sport2020-03-10
80d70900

I am glad that justice exists. The capture of such animals is only a matter of time. And if someone like him is lucky to avoid punishment, then others will be punished for those whom justice has not reached. Therefore animals, think well whether you want to be punished for others, for the damage that you have done together with them. Because real justice is done in prisons where, unlike in a court, you will be deprived of human rights, because you are not human anymore. Even the most fallen criminals have human rights, because they are still human, they have their lives, plans, dreams, families, home, and are able to love and understand the line between permitted and forbidden.

hey uhh2020-03-11
e5a39000

"uhh Deserves to get murdered... for possession? Do you really believe that? " YES, BECAUSE ITS A FANTASY THEY IMAGINE FIRST, WORK OUT THE DETAILS BY WATCHING PEDO PORN, AND THEN ACT OUT IN REAL LIFE. if you cant see this, you part the problem. you feel sorry for this guy? you dont feel anything for the children being molested? their lives are ruined. but its ok to watch?

frosty2020-03-11
f375b250

Completely agree! That's exactly what happens when I watch violent movies. Really helps in working the details out!

frosty2020-03-11
f96e7980

Completely agree! That's exactly what happens when I watch violent movies. Really helps in working the details out!

UhhIsARipper2020-03-11
f497b8c0

Anyone who doesn’t think guy deserves to get murdered in prison is too in fact a ripper, and enjoys looking at this filthy stuff. Like was fore mentioned; these poor children will in-fact become dirty human beings themselves because their whole life all they’ve know is dirty stuff. These children have no voice, you all are some sick individuals who search for this and, choke your chicken to it. Y’all dirty boys believe in Karma? It’s coming for you, hopefully sooner than later.

UhhIsARipper2020-03-11
f6babfd0

Anyone who doesn’t think guy deserves to get murdered in prison is too in fact a ripper, and enjoys looking at this filthy stuff. Like was fore mentioned; these poor children will in-fact become dirty human beings themselves because their whole life all they’ve know is dirty stuff. These children have no voice, you all are some sick individuals who search for this and, choke your chicken to it. Y’all dirty boys believe in Karma? It’s coming for you, hopefully sooner than later.

what ripper? Jack the ripper?2020-03-11
5a664410

>these poor children will in-fact become dirty human beings themselves because their whole life all they’ve know is dirty stuff Correct. Many of these people have been abused themselves, which is precisely why mental health support must be prioritized over punitive sentences. You are a step away from implying all abused children must be immediately thrown in the gas chamber since they have to potential to perpetuate the same crime themselves in the future. Please, download some IQ and empathy.

hey hey uhh2020-03-11
0aa8f250

>YES, BECAUSE ITS A FANTASY THEY IMAGINE FIRST, WORK OUT THE DETAILS BY WATCHING PEDO PORN, AND THEN ACT OUT IN REAL LIFE. Yes, just like how by reading this article and the details of his capture, you are improving your plan for molesting children without getting caught in the future, right? So you're saying you're a pedophile, right? Please use your brain.

Frosty2020-03-14
ca2c3f40

reminder that world leaders like bill clinton, prince andrew, former CIA director, and others that were all implicated in the epstein child sex trafficking organization are all still roaming free and haven't even had charges brought against them.

Yikes2020-07-07
a03296f0

Reading about people providing others Pharmacy grade medications and getting slapped with 40+ yrs. Child Porn though? Heres a slap on the wrist.

Whoop2020-07-13
8ae8ca50

I hope this piece of shit rots in hell

childripper2020-08-18
d4817b70

riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiip hahaha