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CyberTipline® Success Stories
Cybertip Leads to Arrest of Online Enticement Suspect and Identification
of One of His Victims
On November 20, 2008, the CyberTipline received
a report from a concerned mother who reported that a 20-year-old male
was engaging in sexually explicit conversations with her 12-year-old
son via Xbox Live chat. The suspect also told the child that he had molested
a number of boys, ages seven to fifteen. According to the suspect, he
would meet the boys online using Xbox Live chat and eventually meet them
in person. The only information that the reporting person was able to
provide regarding the suspect were his first name, several of his Internet
screen names, and a possible location of New Jersey.
An Exploited Children Division (ECD) analyst conducted Internet searches
using the suspect’s screen names and found a discussion board posting
regarding Xbox. She analyzed the posting and found a possible e-mail
address for the suspect, which she confirmed via various social networking
site searches. Additional e-mail searches provided further confirmation
of the suspect’s online identity, as well as clues as to his real-life
identity. Using a possible full name and date of birth she located in
an online profile, the analyst was able to make a positive hit in a public
records database. The analyst then made the CyberTipline report available
to the New Jersey Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force,
an OJJDP-funded program, for their review.
The New Jersey ICAC forwarded the CyberTipline report to the Monmouth
County Prosecutor’s Office, who, in turn, passed it to the Middletown
Township Police Department. It turned out that the Middletown Township
Police had previously received a complaint regarding the same suspect,
but did not have enough evidence to obtain a search warrant based upon
the original complaint. According to investigators, the CyberTipline
report tied many of the loose ends of the case together and was essential
for them to be able to obtain a search warrant.
The suspect, a 21-year-old unemployed, single male, was arrested on
October 21, 2009 on state charges of Possession of Child Pornography
and was incarcerated in lieu of paying $100,000 in bail. After the suspect’s
arrest, detectives continued their investigation and filed additional
charges against the suspect in January and February of 2010. The charges,
for multiple counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, stemmed from
the identification of a live victim. It is unclear whether the suspect
has sexually molested any children, but he was reportedly meeting children
online and producing child pornography videos using Xbox Live. The investigation
continues, but at this time there are believed to be at least ten child
victims. The suspect’s bail was raised to $200,000 after the additional
charges were filed, and the suspect is currently awaiting trial in Monmouth
County.
Suspect Arrested on Child Pornography Charges
On August 3, 2009, the CyberTipline received
a report, a registered Electronic Service Provider (ESP), regarding a
user who had reportedly uploaded sexually abusive images of pre-pubescent
children to their service. In compliance with federal law, the ESP provided
incident information, including an email address, screen name, and Internet
Protocol (IP) address associated with the suspect.
An Exploited Children Division (ECD) analyst conducted an online look-up
of the IP address and discovered that the suspect had possibly logged
online from the Tampa Bay, Florida area when he created his Photobucket
account, just one day before the CyberTipline report was submitted.
Using the suspect’s email address, the analyst found a social
networking site profile where the suspect provided a possible name, as
well as several images of himself. Further analysis on the profile yielded
a great deal of identifying information. First, the analyst observed
a “Happy Birthday” wish posted to the page and noted the
date. In addition, the analyst observed that a female repeatedly referred
to the individual as her brother; her postings provided an alternate
last name spelling. The analyst then conducted public records searches
using this name and found a possible match for the target in the Tampa
Bay area.
The analyst immediately made this report available to the Central Florida
Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, an OJJDP-funded program,
via the Virtual Private Network (VPN). In late December, a search warrant
was executed at the suspect's home. The 22-year-old suspect was taken
into custody by the Florida Attorney General's Office, with assistance
by the Pasco County Sheriff's Office, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement,
and the New Port Richey Police Department. Authorities also found multiple
weapons in the residence, totaling 39 handguns and high-powered rifles,
as well as ammunition, ammunition-making equipment, and a grenade. The
weapons were removed without incident.
The suspect has initially been charged with 10 counts of possession
of child pornography, which will later be upgraded to second-degree felonies. Further
charges may also be added. Additionally, the suspect's father, a convicted
felon, was charged with possession of firearms and ammunition.
Children Rescued from Ongoing Sexual Abuse at Hands of Trusted
Family Member
On September 23, 2009, the CyberTipline received a report, a registered
Electronic Service Provider (ESP), regarding a user who had reportedly
uploaded graphic sexual images of children to their service. In compliance
with federal law, the ESP provided incident information, including an
e-mail address, screen name, and Internet Protocol (IP) address associated
with the suspect.
An Exploited Children Division (ECD) analyst conducted a series of Internet
searches in the hopes of determining a possible location for the reported
suspect. She was able to locate an online profile that listed a
location of Maryland. Based on this information, she forwarded the
report to the Maryland Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force,
an OJJDP- funded program, out of the Maryland State Police, for investigation.
An investigation by the Maryland ICAC revealed that the reported email
account belonged to an adult male from Hampstead, Maryland. On March
10, 2010, Maryland State Troopers conducted a knock-and-talk at the suspect’s
home. Not only did the suspect admit to downloading the images found
in the CyberTipline report, but he also handed investigators printed
photos of prepubescent males engaged in sexual activity that he had collected. He
further turned over two CDs, which, when previewed by investigators,
contained additional images of child pornography. When investigators
advised the suspect that the residence was seized pending the issuance
of a Search and Seizure Warrant, the suspect told them that he had attempted
suicide in the past and believed he should do it now. He was immediately
placed into protective custody and transported to the local hospital.
During their search of the suspect’s bedroom, Maryland ICAC personnel
located a metal box found to contain five pairs of boys underwear. Investigators
were alarmed, as they were aware that the suspect has access to several
minor nieces and nephews. At this point, Carroll County Child Advocacy
Center (CAC) investigators were called to the scene to interview the
children’s mother. The next day, the ICAC learned that three
of the suspect’s nephews had disclosed long-term sexual abuse by
the suspect, dating back four to six years and continuing up to the time
the suspect was apprehended. During a subsequent interview with Computer
Crimes investigators, the suspect confessed to the sexual molestation
of his nephews, along with at least four other boys. He also informed
investigators that he had abused other children while on vacation camping
and that during these trips, he would convince the children to perform
sexual acts and take photographs of the abuse.
After the interview, the suspect was charged with 10 counts of possession
of child pornography and 10 counts of distribution of child pornography. These
charges will be amended as further evidence is gathered by forensic examiners.
In addition, the CAC will be pursuing sexual abuse charges in the near
future. In the meantime, the suspect is being held without bond.
Authorities have Suspect in Custody Within 10 Days of CyberTipline
Report
On January 12, 2010, a young man contacted the CyberTipline to
report that he was recently at his 20-year-old girlfriend’s house
and was horrified to find images of his girlfriend as a child, being
sexually molested by her custodial grandfather. He stated that the images
were located in folders clearly labeled with the suspect’s name.
He confronted his girlfriend, who broke down sobbing and disclosed that
the abuse had been going on for the past nine years. Frightened, the
victim called the suspect, who reportedly stormed into the apartment
and assaulted the reporting person. The suspect then questioned the reporting
person about what he had found; the reporting person, thinking fast,
made up a story that he had found images of the victim’s breasts.
A short time later, the victim told her boyfriend that the suspect had
destroyed the hard drive of the computer, literally frying it in a frying
pan.
An Exploited Children Division (ECD) analyst spoke with the reporting
person and reassured him that he would contact law enforcement immediately.
Using a public records database, the analyst was able to corroborate
the name and location for the suspect provided by the reporting person.
The analyst then contacted the Maryland Internet Crimes Against Children
Task Force, an OJJDP-funded program out of the Maryland State Police,
and provided them with a copy of the CyberTipline report. The analyst,
concerned for the victim’s safety, alerted law enforcement to the
fact that she had been suicidal in the past and that she threatened to
hurt herself if her secret were revealed.
On January 21, 2010, members of the Maryland ICAC, along with a Child
Advocacy Investigator from the Howard County Police Department, executed
a Search and Seizure warrant at the suspect’s residence in Crofton.
During the search warrant, several items of removable media and a computer
were seized; a preliminary examination revealed numerous images of child
pornography, including pornographic images and videos of the victim at
age 12.
On January 22, 2010, the suspect was arrested at a rest area after returning
from a trip out of town. He was initially charged with Possession of
Child Pornography and Manufacturing Child Pornography, along with Assault
in the Second Degree and False Imprisonment for the attack on the reporting
person. Investigators had also been spending a great deal of time working
with the victim and earning her trust. Although initially reluctant to
discuss her ordeal, she eventually gained enough confidence to tell them
that the suspect had been molesting her since she was 11 years old and
that he had often physically abused her when she attempted to resist.
Thanks to her brave disclosure, additional charges of Custodial Child
abuse, Child Abuse by Parent, Sex Offense in the Second Degree, First
and Second Degree Assault, and Rape in the Second Degree were filed against
the suspect.
The suspect has been denied bail and was remanded to the county jail pending
trial. The victim has been getting much-needed support from counselors
and investigators and is living at a safe location with a friend.
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