Canadian man pleads guilty in NJ to running international child sex ring from Thailand

Canadian pleads guilty to running child sex ring

NEWARK, N.J. — A Canadian man has pleaded guilty to charges stemming from an international pedophile ring he ran from Thailand.

John Wrenshall (REN’-shall) appeared in federal court in Newark on Wednesday.

He pleaded guilty to three counts: conspiring to engage in sex tourism and to produce child pornography, and distribution of child pornography. The 63-year-old told of graphic abuse of boys as young as 4.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Lee Vartan says authorities discovered Wrenshall was running a brothel for pedophiles in Thailand after confiscating computers from a New Jersey man, Wayne Corliss. Wrenshall was then extradited to the U.S.

Corliss is serving a 20-year sentence after admitting he traveled to Thailand to have sex with at least two boys. The small-time actor and children’s entertainer was known for playing Santa Claus.

Eds: APNewsNow. CORRECTS count to distribution of child pornography, sted possession. Will be led.