A reporter interviews acting U.S. Attorney Jonathan Lenzner outside the federal courthouse in Greenbelt, Md., on Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2021, after a judge sentenced Eric Eoin Marques to 27 years in prison. U.S. authorities have said Marques, 36, was the world's most prolific purveyor of child pornography when he was arrested in Ireland in 2013. (AP Photo/Michael Kunzelman)
1 of 2
A reporter interviews acting U.S. Attorney Jonathan Lenzner outside the federal courthouse in Greenbelt, Md., on Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2021, after a judge sentenced Eric Eoin Marques to 27 years in prison. U.S. authorities have said Marques, 36, was the world's most prolific purveyor of child pornography when he was arrested in Ireland in 2013. (AP Photo/Michael Kunzelman)

GREENBELT, Md. — A man described by U.S. authorities as the world’s most prolific purveyor of child pornography at the time of his arrest in Ireland was sentenced on Wednesday to 27 years in federal prison.

Eric Eoin Marques, 36, created and operated computer servers on the dark web that enabled users to anonymously access millions of illicit images and videos, many depicting the rape and torture of infants and toddlers. Law enforcement had never seen many of those images before finding them on Marques’ servers, according to prosecutors.

U.S. District Judge Theodore Chuang told Marques that his crimes were the equivalent of those of a drug kingpin.

“This crime was truly despicable,” Chuang said.

Prior to learning his sentence, Marques apologized to the victims and asked for mercy from the court.

“I have destroyed my reputation and my family’s reputation. Please give me a second chance,” he told Chuang.

(It seems these guys are only really sorry about being caught)