A federal judge in St. Louis has ruled the FBI recklessly used false information to obtain evidence in a major child pornography case, ordering that key evidence be thrown out. The ruling of Federal District Judge Catherine Perry dovetailed with one made public Thursday by a New York judge in the national “Candyman” investigation that resulted in more than 100 arrests. The St. Louis ruling tosses out, at least for now, thousands of child pornography pictures found on the compact discs seized from the home of Gregory Strauser of St. Louis County. The ruling could be appealed by federal prosecutors. Four other St. Louis area residents snared in the Candyman sting have been convicted and sentenced. It’s unknown whether the ruling would affect those cases. A former FBI agent had incorrectly stated in warrants used throughout the investigation than all subscribers to the Candyman child porn Internet site automatically received its pictures.
