Law enforcement release # Florida Man Sentenced to Prison for Engaging in a Child Exploitation Enterprise FBI / US DOJ, May 1, 2017. Establishes the Playpen server seizure, the FBI's covert operation of the site under an NIT warrant, and the resulting prosecutions.. **Source type:** Law enforcement release **Published:** May 1, 2017 **Research grade:** P1 **Used in entries:** 17 ## Bibliographic record **Publisher:** FBI / US DOJ **Published:** May 1, 2017 **Source type:** Law enforcement release **Research grade:** Source grade P1 **Language:** English **Official record:** Official publication **Address:** [https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/florida-man-sentenced-prison-engaging-child-exploitation-enterprise](https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/florida-man-sentenced-prison-engaging-child-exploitation-enterprise) **What it supports:** Establishes the Playpen server seizure, the FBI's covert operation of the site under an NIT warrant, and the resulting prosecutions. **Dataset id:** src\_fbi\_playpen\_2015 ## Research notes - Replacement official outcome source for generic source stub; also documents creator/lead administrator and sentence. - Open question on source\_quality: Same inconsistency as the Megaupload source: official DOJ release graded S2 while other DOJ releases in this batch are P1. How this source is used Cited 17 times across 4 record types. The role on each citation records what the source was relied on for. A primary source establishes the fact, a supporting source corroborates it, technical evidence describes the infrastructure, and a later outcome records what happened afterwards. Sources were reviewed to a research cutoff of August 23, 2026. Addresses recorded after that date are not reflected here. ## Cited by ### Takedown records 1 citation Cited on the takedown record itself. - [Operation Pacifier / Playpen](https://takedownindex.org/takedowns/operation-pacifier-playpen) Child sexual abuse material, February 2015 Primary source ### Organization roles 2 citations Cited for an organization's recorded role in a takedown. - [Federal Bureau of Investigation](https://takedownindex.org/takedowns/operation-pacifier-playpen) Operational lead, Operation Pacifier / Playpen Primary source - [United States Department of Justice](https://takedownindex.org/takedowns/operation-pacifier-playpen) Prosecuting, Operation Pacifier / Playpen Primary source ### Legal actions against people 13 citations Cited for a recorded legal action against a named person. - [Steven W. Chase](https://takedownindex.org/people/steven-w-chase) Convicted, Operation Pacifier / Playpen Primary source - [Steven W. Chase](https://takedownindex.org/people/steven-w-chase) Charged, Operation Pacifier / Playpen Primary source - [Steven W. Chase](https://takedownindex.org/people/steven-w-chase) Arrested, Operation Pacifier / Playpen Primary source - [David Lynn Browning](https://takedownindex.org/people/david-lynn-browning) Charged, Operation Pacifier / Playpen Primary source - [David Lynn Browning](https://takedownindex.org/people/david-lynn-browning) Arrested, Operation Pacifier / Playpen Primary source - [David Lynn Browning](https://takedownindex.org/people/david-lynn-browning) Pleaded guilty, Operation Pacifier / Playpen Primary source - [Michael Fluckiger](https://takedownindex.org/people/michael-fluckiger) Charged, Operation Pacifier / Playpen Primary source - [Michael Fluckiger](https://takedownindex.org/people/michael-fluckiger) Arrested, Operation Pacifier / Playpen Primary source - [Michael Fluckiger](https://takedownindex.org/people/michael-fluckiger) Pleaded guilty, Operation Pacifier / Playpen Primary source - [Steven W. Chase](https://takedownindex.org/people/steven-w-chase) Sentenced, Operation Pacifier / Playpen Primary source - [Michael Fluckiger](https://takedownindex.org/people/michael-fluckiger) Sentenced, Operation Pacifier / Playpen Primary source - [David Lynn Browning](https://takedownindex.org/people/david-lynn-browning) Sentenced, Operation Pacifier / Playpen Primary source - [Steven W. Chase](https://takedownindex.org/people/steven-w-chase) Sentenced, Operation Pacifier / Playpen Primary source ### Infrastructure 1 citation Cited for infrastructure recorded as acted on. - [1 server](https://takedownindex.org/takedowns/operation-pacifier-playpen) Server taken over, Operation Pacifier / Playpen Primary source [All sources](https://takedownindex.org/sources)