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U.S. has 1 week to request extradition for accused child porn host

Eric Marques, allegedly the owner of Freedom Hosting, will remain in Irish custody for one week.

 

Patrick Howell O'Neill

Internet Culture

Posted on Aug 8, 2013   Updated on Jun 1, 2021, 9:36 am CDT

The “largest facilitator of child porn on the planet” will remain in Irish custody after a lawyer acting for the Irish attorney general asked a judge to remand him for another week “in anticipation of a formal request for extradition from the U.S.,” the BBC reported.

Eric Marques, believed by many to be the man behind Freedom Hosting—the most popular hosting service on the Dark Net—was arrested in Dublin last week after a year-long investigation by the FBI and Irish police. He was denied bail because he is seen as a flight risk.

After a brief court session, the judge announced that the U.S. has one week to file an extradition request for Marques to face child pornography charges filed in Maryland.

“Time is running out,” said High Court Justice Paul McDermott. “If at that juncture a formal request for extradition is not received and not certified by the minister, Mr. Marques will be released.”

Meanwhile, underground pedophilia forums have been scrambling to close up shop and delete potential evidence since Marques’ arrest.

Photo via soulrider222/Flickr

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*First Published: Aug 8, 2013, 1:27 pm CDT