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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A Staten Island man has been snared in the ongoing federal probe of a secret child pornography web server with more than 200,000 members.

Federal authorities have accused Luis Escobosa of using the Tor network – a so-called "dark web" service that allows its users to go online anonymously – to access child pornography.

Escobosa, whose age and home community were not released by federal authorities, joined a web site described in court documents as "Website A" and "Playpen" on Feb. 4 of this year, prosecutors allege. A source familiar with the case said he resides in Arden Heights.

"Website A was a child pornography bulletin board and website dedicated to the advertisement and distribution of child pornography and the discussion of matters pertinent to the sexual abuse of children, including the safety and security of individuals who seek to sexually exploit children online," the federal complaint against Escobosa reads.

On Feb. 20, the FBI seized the site's server from a web-hosting facility in Lenoir, N.C., but kept it running until March 4, as it monitored who logged on, court documents allege.

That web site has appeared in at least two other child pornography cases in Brooklyn federal court. In one of those cases seeking a limit on who can view material released to defense attorneys, prosecutors contended, "The investigation continues into users of 'Website A,' which operated for the purpose of advertising and distributing child pornography. Thousands of users of 'Website A,' in the United States and abroad, remain under active investigation."

Reuters reported in July that the site had nearly 215,000 users.

Escobosa, who used the name "Fraud92787,"was listed as a "newbie member," and spent a total of four hours and 16 minutes on the site between Feb. 4 and March 3, court documents allege.

He accessed links to several images and videos of adult males having sex with prepubescent females, including, on March 3, a post that containted a link to 70 images of three girls, ages 5 to 8.

After tracking his internet address, federal agents came to Escobosa's door with a search warrant on June 30 and found about 115 thumbnail images of child pornography, court documents allege.

Escobosa admitted that he downloaded child pornography, and told federal authorities that while he was mostly interested in girls aged 15 to 17, he downloaded files depicting victims as young as 13 years old, it is alleged.

He admitted to using the Tor network, and when the "Playpen" website went down, he found other sites to view child pornography, court documents allege.

He also agreed to take, and passed, a polygraph test in which he was asked if he had ever had sexual contact with a minor, court documents allege.

The Tor network is often used by political dissidents and whistleblowers, but criminal organizations have also taken advantage of its anonymity.

Escobosa was arrested Friday and arraigned before Magistrate Judge Vera M. Scanlon on a federal child pornography complaint. He was released on $150,000 bond.

His lawyer, Patrick Parrotta, declined comment Monday.

Source: Staten Island man busted in 'dark web' child porn probe