Two NCMEC CyberTipline Success Stories - January 2007
Online Postings Provide Clues that Lead to Arrest
On November 20, 2006, the CyberTipline received a report from a registered Internet Service Provider (ISP) regarding a collection of sexually abusive images of children that had been uploaded to an online photo album. Many of the images depicted a prepubescent female being sexually abused by an adult male, while others were of older female children and had been altered to make them appear nude.
Upon reviewing these images, an Exploited Child Unit (ECU) analyst was struck by the resemblance between the children in the photos. She suspected that the reported suspect had not only uploaded the images, but had also manufactured them and may still be victimizing the children. The analyst worked closely with the Child Victim Identification Program to aggressively research the information provided by the ISP in hope of identifying young victims.
The first clue that led the analysts to the children?s location was a personal home page created by the reported suspect. It contained numerous non-pornographic images of several children, who strongly resembled the children in the abusive images. Further analysis of the website revealed a possible name for the reported suspect, several references to a town in Kentucky, and additional identifying information regarding the children. The analysts confirmed the possible location of the children in Kentucky via public database searches. ECU analysts also found online postings indicating that the reported suspect had ties to ? or possibly resided in ? Canada. The Internet Protocol (IP) address provided by the ISP was consistent with this information.
A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Senior Special Agent and NCMEC liaison contacted a Special Agent in the Northern Kentucky Field Office. The Special Agent worked to ensure immediate transfer of the report and images. Recognizing the severity of the situation, the agent also enlisted the help of the Boone County Sheriff?s Department and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), Integrated Child Exploitation Unit. The RCMP were able to confirm the suspect?s identity and verify that he was no longer in Canada. They also had the suspect?s home page taken down, thereby protecting the children?s identities.
Meanwhile, authorities with ICE and Boone County located the 46-year-old suspect and took him into custody. Boone County investigators secured a confession from the suspect, in which he reportedly admitted to sexually assaulting the youngest child on several occasions.
The suspect is currently being held in lieu of a $1,000,000 bond. He has been charged with seven counts of Sodomy in the First Degree and one count of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree. Additional charges are pending. The charges carry a potential penalty of life in prison if he is convicted.
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Quick Action of NCMEC and Law Enforcement Helps Prevent Further Exploitation
On December 15, 2006, a concerned individual in Georgia reported to the CyberTipline that an adult male had been checking in to the motel where she worked every weekend since mid-November. Each time, he was accompanied by several young males. She was concerned that the individual may be sexually abusing the children. In the report, she stated that the suspect had booked a room for that very evening.
An Exploited Child Unit (ECU) analyst recognized the urgency of the situation and began gathering additional information. The analyst learned that the reported suspect always requested a single bedroom, and that the boys, whom the reported suspect introduced as his cousin and brother, were never permitted to leave the room. The reporting person also noted that the suspect tried to avoid surveillance cameras in the motel and made certain that he and the boys checked out before they might be seen by other guests.
The ECU analyst contacted the Georgia Bureau of Investigation?s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, an OJJDP-funded program, and explained the situation. The analyst provided instant, real-time access to the report while the ICAC investigator contacted the Dekalb County Police Department and enlisted their assistance. Within an hour, representatives from the Dekalb County Police Department and the Stone Mountain Police Department were at the scene.
Investigators found two 14-year-old males, an 18-year-old male, and the reported suspect alone in the room. The suspect was found to be their neighbor. Law enforcement?s intervention that night likely prevented a sexual assault, although they did feel the suspect had engaged the children sexually during previous encounters. The children?s parents, who had not been aware of their sons? location or circumstances, were immediately contacted and the children were returned to their custody. The investigation continues.
National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
Charles B. Wang International Children's Building
699 Prince Street Alexandria, VA 22314-3175
703-274-3900 | 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678) | www.missingkids.com
Retrieved January 18, 2007 from http://www.missingkids.com/en_US/e_news/ct-success-stories.htm
On November 20, 2006, the CyberTipline received a report from a registered Internet Service Provider (ISP) regarding a collection of sexually abusive images of children that had been uploaded to an online photo album. Many of the images depicted a prepubescent female being sexually abused by an adult male, while others were of older female children and had been altered to make them appear nude.
Upon reviewing these images, an Exploited Child Unit (ECU) analyst was struck by the resemblance between the children in the photos. She suspected that the reported suspect had not only uploaded the images, but had also manufactured them and may still be victimizing the children. The analyst worked closely with the Child Victim Identification Program to aggressively research the information provided by the ISP in hope of identifying young victims.
The first clue that led the analysts to the children?s location was a personal home page created by the reported suspect. It contained numerous non-pornographic images of several children, who strongly resembled the children in the abusive images. Further analysis of the website revealed a possible name for the reported suspect, several references to a town in Kentucky, and additional identifying information regarding the children. The analysts confirmed the possible location of the children in Kentucky via public database searches. ECU analysts also found online postings indicating that the reported suspect had ties to ? or possibly resided in ? Canada. The Internet Protocol (IP) address provided by the ISP was consistent with this information.
A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Senior Special Agent and NCMEC liaison contacted a Special Agent in the Northern Kentucky Field Office. The Special Agent worked to ensure immediate transfer of the report and images. Recognizing the severity of the situation, the agent also enlisted the help of the Boone County Sheriff?s Department and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), Integrated Child Exploitation Unit. The RCMP were able to confirm the suspect?s identity and verify that he was no longer in Canada. They also had the suspect?s home page taken down, thereby protecting the children?s identities.
Meanwhile, authorities with ICE and Boone County located the 46-year-old suspect and took him into custody. Boone County investigators secured a confession from the suspect, in which he reportedly admitted to sexually assaulting the youngest child on several occasions.
The suspect is currently being held in lieu of a $1,000,000 bond. He has been charged with seven counts of Sodomy in the First Degree and one count of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree. Additional charges are pending. The charges carry a potential penalty of life in prison if he is convicted.
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Quick Action of NCMEC and Law Enforcement Helps Prevent Further Exploitation
On December 15, 2006, a concerned individual in Georgia reported to the CyberTipline that an adult male had been checking in to the motel where she worked every weekend since mid-November. Each time, he was accompanied by several young males. She was concerned that the individual may be sexually abusing the children. In the report, she stated that the suspect had booked a room for that very evening.
An Exploited Child Unit (ECU) analyst recognized the urgency of the situation and began gathering additional information. The analyst learned that the reported suspect always requested a single bedroom, and that the boys, whom the reported suspect introduced as his cousin and brother, were never permitted to leave the room. The reporting person also noted that the suspect tried to avoid surveillance cameras in the motel and made certain that he and the boys checked out before they might be seen by other guests.
The ECU analyst contacted the Georgia Bureau of Investigation?s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, an OJJDP-funded program, and explained the situation. The analyst provided instant, real-time access to the report while the ICAC investigator contacted the Dekalb County Police Department and enlisted their assistance. Within an hour, representatives from the Dekalb County Police Department and the Stone Mountain Police Department were at the scene.
Investigators found two 14-year-old males, an 18-year-old male, and the reported suspect alone in the room. The suspect was found to be their neighbor. Law enforcement?s intervention that night likely prevented a sexual assault, although they did feel the suspect had engaged the children sexually during previous encounters. The children?s parents, who had not been aware of their sons? location or circumstances, were immediately contacted and the children were returned to their custody. The investigation continues.
National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
Charles B. Wang International Children's Building
699 Prince Street Alexandria, VA 22314-3175
703-274-3900 | 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678) | www.missingkids.com
Retrieved January 18, 2007 from http://www.missingkids.com/en_US/e_news/ct-success-stories.htm