Bay Area man, woman arrested for allegedly possessing hundreds of video, images of child porn

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- Two Bay Area residents are in federal custody, charged in a widespread criminal investigation of child porn. The crimes against children are disturbing and involved victims internationally.

Neighbors woke to a pre-dawn raid by the FBI on Buchanan Street. Authorities were searching the Novato home of 29-year-old Patrick Harvey, arrested for possession of child porn.

The sting was part of a federal investigation which also snared 40-year-old Kori Nicole Ellis, who is charged with possession, production and distribution of child porn.

San Francisco police Officer Carlos Manfredi said, "It took a horrible person off the street. She engaged in chat sites with kids from all over California."

The San Francisco Police Internet Crimes Against Children unit assisted and found more than 600 images of children at Ellis' San Francisco home on South Van Ness Avenue. There were even images of small children in bondage.

Manfredi told ABC7 News, "She was even able to convince a family, a couple, over in the UK and asked of them to engage in child pornographic acts for her pleasure and to send it to her."

Police in the UK placed those kids in protective custody. Police say Ellis met Harvey and exchanged graphic child porn images.

Some of the children were as young as 1-year-old and some of the images involved sadomasochism.

This was a shock to Novato neighbors who say Harvey's family was quiet and polite. Some say they felt uncomfortable knowing a neighbor is accused of these crimes, with a school right up the street. No one answered the door when we knocked on the door of the Novato home.

Ellis has pleaded not guilty to the crime. She'll be back in federal court next week.

Harvey could enter a plea on Sept. 14.