Middle Tennessee Authorities Bring Down Child Porn Ring

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Gary Salles

WINCHESTER, Tenn.- A major, international child porn operation shutdown right here in middle Tennessee.

Two male suspects stepped right into a police trap when they allegedly tried to sell countless, illegal images a teenage boy. Our Brent Frazier is just back from Winchester, in Franklin County where the suspects took the bait.

Lead suspect Gary Salles claims to be a mentor to gay and lesbian adolescents. He's a dance club photographer, by trade and according to investigators a self professed pedophile.

Online, Gary Salles bills himself as a bona fide photographer, but it's the personal, even pornographic pictures, according to police, that got the 57 year old busted in Winchester, Tennessee.

"To see the videos, firsthand, that he was sharing, that was exciting to him. For example, a 4-year-old being raped, molested. Ya know, he would really get excited," said Chief Dennis Young, Winchester, TN, Police Department.

Police Chief Dennis Young was monitoring surveillance video Saturday inside a Winchester motel when suspects Gary Salles and Mike Lattimore drove from Atlanta to offer up drugs, more than 450 computer files, images of children engaged in sexual acts, and according to police, a 13 or 14 year old boy for sale for $10,000, a 13 or 14 year old boy for sale for $10,000.

"These are real life kids being abused," said Chief Young.

The chief says Salles never once suspected the would-be buyers were undercover investigators.

Salles and his suspected partner are at the Franklin County Jail. The suspected ring leader of this kiddie porn ring with international appeal, won't find freedom anytime soon, at least not if the chief has his way.

"I don't believe this man is going to see the light of day again if we have anything to do with it," said Chief Young.

The chief also claims Gary Salles is a major producer of the crystal meth being supplied to middle Tennessee. He allegedly brought $2,000 worth to Saturday's bogus buy in Winchester.

The chief is crediting his department, the FBI, and giving a big pat on the back to Franklin Police Department's Internet Crimes Against Children unit.

Suspects Gary Salles and Mike Lattimore will be taken to Chattanooga first thing Tuesday morning where they'll be arraigned and charged in federal court.