Marine Charged With Trafficking Child Porn Images
Thu Apr 20, 1:29 PM ET

A Marine captain is being charged for allegedly trafficking about 7,700 images of child erotica and child pornography.

Richard B. Toschiaddi, 34, is charged with soliciting, possessing and distributing the images worldwide from his Oceanside home, Camp Pendleton officials told The San Diego Union-Tribune. The charges follow a two-year investigation that began in April 2004, the newspaper reported. Toschiaddi allegedly sent obscene images of minor children to undercover German federal police agents. German authorities then contacted U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which confiscated Toschiaddi's computer before handing the case over to the Marine Corps and Naval Criminal Investigative Service in February, according to the Union-Tribune.

A four-page charge sheet that the Marines provided the Union-Tribune Wednesday alleges that Toschiaddi distributed images via an Internet chat room.

The charge sheet also indicated that Toschiaddi advertised himself as having a large amount of obscene images available for sale or trading, and he allegedly also received obscene material concerning minors via the Internet, the Union-Tribune reported.

Hearings will take place over the coming weeks to determine if Toschiaddi is to be court-martialed. The process could also lead to the charges being dismissed.

Ellie