Crystal & Child Porn Bust

Atlanta gay nightlife photographer Gary Salles was arrested in Winchester, Tenn., during an undercover operation and charged with running an international child porn operation and selling crystal methamphetamine, according to police.
Salles, 57, faces federal child porn and drug charges and is currently being held without bond in Chattanooga, Tenn., said Winchester Police Department Chief Dennis Young. Arrested with Salles was Mike Lattimore, 50, who is charged with distribution of crystal meth and is being held without bond in Chattanooga. The two men go before a grand jury Jan. 27, Young said. Additional charges are likely, he added.
“[Salles] runs an offshore website for the distribution of child pornography,” Young said. “We first became involved [in the investigation] because of [Salles’] meth sales here.”
According to Young, Salles and Lattimore first corresponded with undercover agents via email several weeks ago. Working with the Winchester Police Department were the Franklin Police Department’s internet crime squad and the Atlanta and Tennessee offices of the FBI. Investigators then asked to meet Salles and Lattimore in person at a hotel in Winchester, Young said. Undercover officers met with them while surveillance video captured the exchange.
“Normally [Salles] does stuff by mail, but on the second round we said we wanted it hand-delivered,” Young said.
The men had approximately 450 files of child pornography with them, about 50 videos and 400 still images, he added.
“There were minor children involved in sexual acts, from infants to pre-teens. There was bondage — you name it, they had it. They brought a sampling of what they had,” Young said.
Salles and Lattimore also had crystal meth valued at $2,000, police said.
News Channel 5 in Nashville reported Salles and Lattimore offered to sell a boy, aged 13 or 14, for $10,000 as well. Chief Young said the suspects “offered up” a teen boy for sexual “services” but the investigators did not ask them to bring a boy with them to Tennessee.
On Salles’ Myspace page, he states, “I’m bi-sexual. I like men AND boys!”
Salles also states on his Myspace page that he is owner of GSalles photography and is a party promoter.
“I got my start 30 years [sic] as a gossip columninst [sic] and ‘around town’ photographer and I spealized [sic] in helping young GLBT and Questioning kids look and feel FAB-U-Lous.
“My big thing today is making new friends and surrounding myself with people who are newly out and seeking friends who don’t just want to jump their bones... but really help them navigate thru uncharted waters,” it also states on Salles’ Myspace page.
Winchester, Tenn., located in Franklin County, is more than 200 miles from Atlanta. Ben Elliott, former proprietor of the Atlanta gay bar Hoedowns, was arrested in Winchester late last year and faces federal charges of wire fraud. Elliott was scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 20 in federal court, but his sentencing hearing was postponed until Feb. 25, according to court documents.
Asked via email about whether he played a role in Salles and Lattimore’s arrest, Elliott responded, “I read about this like everyone else. I would refer you to my counsel for any further comment.”
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Atlanta is handling Elliott’s prosecution. Patrick Crosby, spokesperson for the office, declined comment. Atlanta FBI spokesperson Steve Lazarus also declined comment on the Salles case.
Salles once served on the committee that produced Atlanta’s Pearl Day, an HIV fundraiser. He has also occasionally submitted photos for publication in David Atlanta magazine, which is owned by the same company that owns Southern Voice.
Brian Sawyer, chairman and owner of Pearl Days, LLC, said Salles had not been associated with the event since 2007.
“Our general reaction is that we are appalled and surprised,” Sawyer said. “We certainly had no idea of any of his personal affairs. He was very professional with our organization in the years past, and Atlanta Pearl Days strives for excellence in our community.
“Our best wishes go out to any and all victims, and our thoughts are with them,” Sawyer continued.
After a hiatus in 2008, Sawyer said plans are underway for a series of 2009 Pearl Day events, beginning in June around Atlanta Pride and culminating in a main event on Sept. 11.
Article Reprinted From Our Friends At The Southern Voice | A Just One Hot Minute News Partner