Texan guilty in global child porn case

PENSACOLA, Fla., Aug. 13 (UPI) -- A Texas man pleaded guilty in Florida Wednesday to his role in what federal prosecutors called a vast Internet child pornography trafficking enterprise.

Erik Raymond Wayerski, 46, of Leander pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Pensacola to six counts related to his activities in an alleged 14-member pornography ring, the U.S. Justice Department said in a news release. The 14 were named in a 40-count indictment in March.

Authorities allege Wayerski and the others traded more than 400,000 images and videos of child sexual abuse over a two-year period.

Wayerski faces 20 years to life in prison when he is sentenced following the trial of the remaining defendants next year. Three others also have pleaded guilty -- Ruble Keys, 55, of Medford, Ore., Warren Weber, 56, of Boise, Idaho, and Stepan Bondarenko, 38, of Philadelphia.

The remaining defendants are to go to trial Jan. 5, 2009, in Pensacola.