Tulsa man indicted in national child pornography investigation

<br>TULSA, Okla. (AP) _ A Tulsa man was charged with possessing child pornography in an FBI investigation into an Internet child-porn ring, authorities said Wednesday. <br><br>Gregory Hanifin, 39, was

Thursday, April 4th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

TULSA, Okla. (AP) _ A Tulsa man was charged with possessing child pornography in an FBI investigation into an Internet child-porn ring, authorities said Wednesday.

Gregory Hanifin, 39, was charged with receiving illegal images of children via computer from May 22 to June 2, according to a federal grand jury indictment.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Susan Morgan said the investigation is part of ``Operation Candyman,'' an undercover investigation by the FBI.

U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft announced March 18 that a 14-month investigation by all 56 national FBI field offices had uncovered an estimated 7,000 members of an Internet group that featured child pornography.

More than 90 people have been charged nationwide in the ``Operation Candyman'' investigation, including two Roman Catholic priests and a school bus driver.

Billy Wayne Hutto, 55, of Owasso previously was linked to the investigation. Hutto was charged in Tulsa federal court March 5 with receiving child pornography via computer from Jan. 4, 1999, to Sept. 30, 2000.

Also indicted Wednesday was Derrick Alan Archer of Tulsa. Archer, 42, was accused of receiving child pornography via computer on Feb. 19, 2001.

Morgan said Archer's alleged activity is not part of ``Operation Candyman.''