Feds Probing Colorado 'Revenge Porn' Website

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (CBS4) - A major federal agency is considering a formal investigation into a Colorado Springs-based "revenge porn" website that posts women's private, nude photos without their consent.

A series of CBS4 investigations last month into Craig Brittain's website revealed, among other things, that Brittain apparently impersonated a woman to trick other women on Craigslist into sending him their private pictures, which he in turn posted on his website.

Last week, a staff attorney for the federal agency contacted CBS4 with numerous questions about the CBS4 investigation. She characterized the inquiry as a "preliminary investigation" and asked that her name and agency not be revealed until a decision had been made on whether to go forward with a full blown federal investigation.

The attorney said she had been assigned to look into Brittain's website and report back to her supervisors.

"It's not good for him," she said of her agency's interest in Brittain's Internet activities. She said if her agency presses forward, they would likely seek "injunctive relief" to take down the website, but she conceded that would likely take months.

Brittain's website has posted nude photos of roughly 700 women and men from Colorado, other states and several other countries. A dozen women told CBS4 they were outraged to find their private photos on Brittain's website. Many said they were unsure how he obtained their pictures, which were typically intended only for viewing by spouses or boyfriends.

The federal attorney told CBS4, "We are wading into this, looking at the privacy angle."

Brittain sat for a 90 minute interview with CBS4 but has not responded to numerous follow up requests since the CBS4 investigation aired in early February.

RELATED: Craig Brittain Story, Video Archive

- Written by Brian Maass for CBSDenver.com