Opinion ID: 792174
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Operation Candyman

Text: 5 In January 2001, FBI Special Agent Geoffrey S. Binney joined the Candyman e-group in an undercover capacity. The Candyman webpage announced the following to anyone considering joining: 6 This group is for People who love kids. You can post any type of messages you like too [sic] or any type of pics or vids you like too [sic]. P.S. IF WE ALL WORK TOGETHER WE WILL HAVE THE BEST GROUP ON THE NET. 7 In order to use the full website, an individual was required to become a member of the e-group. 8 Special Agent Binney's affidavit went on to assert that members had access to a number of features on the website: (1) a Files section allowed users to post images and video clips for other members to access and download; (2) a Polls section allowed Candyman E-group members to answer survey questions, such as `what age group do you prefer?'; (3) a Links section permitted members to post URLs for other web sites containing similar content; (4) a Chat section enabled members to engage in real time chat conversations with each other; (5) an e-mail list, to which all new members were automatically 2 added, circulated messages and files when they were sent to the e-group; and (6) a Messages area stored all the messages and files transmitted to the group so that members could review them later. See generally United States v. Froman, 355 F.3d 882, 884-85 (5th Cir.2004) (describing features of Candyman website). 9 In the Files section, Special Agent Binney found and downloaded approximately 100 pictures and movies of child pornography and so-called child erotica. From January 2, 2001, when Binney joined the Candyman e-group, until February 6, 2001, when the e-group was shut down, he received nearly 500 e-mails, to which were attached roughly 300 files containing child pornography or child erotica. 10 After the warrant authorizing the search of Martin's home was issued, misstatements were discovered in the standard provisions of the affidavit. The affidavit declared that every new member was automatically added to an e-mail list and thereafter automatically received every e-mail message and other file transmitted to the Candyman E-group by any Candyman E-group member. It was later revealed that this statement was not universally true. Those who registered by e-mail were automatically added to the e-mail list, but those who registered on the Candyman website could opt out of this feature.