John Doe 13 - Identity of male Internet predator sought by U.S. federal authorities

Federal prosecutors in Hammond have indicted a man who distributed a video of himself on the Internet sexually assaulting a pre-pubescent girl.

The only problem is that prosecutors still don't know the man's name.

Authorities discovered the video clips on the computer of a Porter County man convicted last year on child pornography charges.

After conviction, the man's computer was searched by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which retrieved the images and determined that the man was not a previously identified child pornographer.

The investigation and prosecution of the case is being handled through the Endangered Child Alert Program, which focuses on getting media exposure of unidentified child pornographers.

The man is the 13th person prosecuted under the program, leading authorities to refer to him as "John Doe 13."

According to the Department of Justice, several of the previous 12 offenders have been indicted and at least 30 abused children have been identified.

"This is a huge priority," said Assistant U.S. Attorney Bernie Van Wormer. "The Department of Justice has a number of priorities, but in my opinion, this is as big a priority as any of them. When you're taking about rescuing abused kids, that's a No. 1 priority in my book. "

John Doe 13, a white male with balding brown hair, weighs about 180 to 200 pounds.

He faces five to 20 years in prison, if convicted, and up to a $250,000 fine.

If anyone has any information on John Doe 13, contact the FBI office in Merrillville at 769-3719 or in Indianapolis at (317) 639-3301.