The initial announcement of the arrests made it fairly clear that the FBI knows illegal things happen and they aren't interested in, or have the resources for, stopping all crime within their bailiwick. The two other boards were shut down for a few reasons:
1) complaints by parents of minor children being involved with predecessor boards
2) ongoing interaction between those board administrators and earlier boards
3) charging of admission
4) cross-border activity
Other than the first point, which occurred in 2007, had a lower profile been maintained and a bit more discretion on the PART OF EVERYONE, I don't think we'd be having this discussion.
In short, this is the result of hubris. Auctions, arrogance...whatever...it wasn't a single thing, but each played a role. Disgruntled ladies turning into informants (don't think THAT won't bite them in the ass-the accused have the right to confront their accuser, and so the anonymity they enjoy in the affidavit will disappear), pimps turning into informants in order to plea down in prior arrests, and just otherwise blatant behavior by people thinking that having a screenname offered sufficient protection. PAYPAL? Nothing like creating an electronic document trail...couple that with auctioned panties...just brilliant. Does anybody still think that the DDOS attacks were by Peeping? Talk about a great way to force the 3 into a public meeting, monitored and recorded.
Anyway, people will find this board, but as an earlier post mentioned, if you are a US citizen the long-arm statutes do apply to your activity regardless of where you are, so be smart and safe, and try to be discreet in your private life. If you tell people, I suggest you make sure they aren't minors, and that they aren't the types who foolishly cave under pressure.
Well, given this is my first post I suppose I should have started with "hi!". I'm a newcummer here, but not a newcomer to the boards.
Play smart, and play safe.