Pandora’s Blog

Even though this is a press release of sorts, it is nonetheless impressive… and from my home state. Still, despite these valiant efforts and large successes, the sickos are still out there and parents still need to be monitoring their child’s internet activity with software like PC Pandora.

Internet Crime Task Force Nets 60 Arrests
ALBANY—Law enforcement officials from across the state joined State Police Deputy Supt. Pedro J. Perez in Albany Tuesday to announce the results of Operation Safe Internet and to remind the public and parents of potential dangers on the Internet.

Operation Safe Internet is a federally funded initiative targeting Internet crime from perspectives of enforcement and public outreach and education about Internet Safety.

“This time of year children will be getting out of school for summer and will have more time to be online”, NYSP Supt. Harry J. Corbitt said. “Although the home may seem safe, I encourage parents to take a more active role in supervising their children while they are on the Internet and to make themselves aware of the prevalence of predators using computer technology”.

The initiative conducted by the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC)
Task Force between March and May of 2008 resulted in the following:

• Over 350 investigations initiated throughout the State involving the online sexual exploitation of children, child pornography possession and dissemination, as well as online frauds or scams.
• Prosecutors issuing over 180 subpoenas pursuant to these investigations.
• Law Enforcement personnel executing over 50 search warrants across the State.
• The ICAC Task Force made over 60 arrests during this three month period, with more arrests anticipated. Arrests were made for possession of sexual performance by a child, promoting of sexual performance by a child, identity theft, and unauthorized use of a computer.

Additionally, during the same three month period, the ICAC Task Force has provided:

• Presentations to over 22,000 parents, teachers, school officials and law enforcement personnel.
• Disseminated approximately 2,000 brochures, flyers and other publications to schools, and many government agencies regarding Internet Safety, ID Theft and online fraud prevention.
  The NYSP Computer Crime Unit provided extensive forensic support during this operation, including:
• Field examinations of digital evidence involving over 200 computers, cell phones and other storage devices.
• Laboratory examinations of digital evidence involving over 40 computers, cell phones and other storage devices to facilitate arrests and other court proceedings.

The ICAC Task Force, partnered with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and the Ad Council, have compiled a series of public service announcements that are being made available to the media and posted on the New York State Police website. These PSAs cover such topics as cyber-bullying, and online sexual predators.

Additionally, the ICAC Task Force, the National White Collar Crime Center and the New York State Police are producing additional Internet safety PSAs to disseminate prior to the commencement of school year this fall.

In 1998, the NY State Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force was established and is headquartered at the Forensic Investigation Center in Albany. The original agency participants of this task force were the NY State Police, state Attorney General and NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services.

Currently there are currently 16 agencies that participate in the NY State ICAC Task Force.

• NY State Police
• NY State Attorney General
• NY State Division of Criminal Justice Services
• US Attorney (4 Districts in NY)
• Westchester County District Attorney
• Oneida County District Attorney
• Onondaga County District Attorney
• Rockland County Sheriff’s Office
• Niagara County Sheriff’s Office
• Monroe County Sheriff’s Office
• Warren County Sheriff’s Office
• Ulster County Sheriff’s Office
• New York City Police
• Suffolk County Police
• Nassau County Police
• Utica City Police

Since 1998 the ICAC Task Force has been the primary law enforcement entity in this State providing:

• Coordination of statewide investigations involving the online exploitation of children.
• Expert testimony in cases which involve digital evidence and the Internet.
• Presentations to over 100,000 parents, teachers, administrators regarding Internet safety.
• Training over 4,300 law enforcement personnel regarding Internet safety awareness.
• Liaison to Federal agencies and other ICAC Task Forces in the US during multi-State investigations.
• Liaison with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to prevent the online victimization of children.

This entry was posted on Thursday, June 26th, 2008 at 1:43 PM and is filed under Main. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.