Breaking NCMEC News: CyberTipline tops 400,000 Reoprts
CyberTipline® Tops 400,000 Reports Since its 1998 launch, CyberTipline has received an astonishing 400,000 reports regarding the sexual exploitation of children, which have led to innumerable arrests and prosecutions worldwide. Thanks to the vigilance of the general public and Electronic Service Providers (ESPs) — key partners in our mission to protect children — CyberTipline has become the nation’s go-to resource in the fight against child sexual exploitation. CyberTipline, a Congressionally-mandated reporting tool, takes the guess work out of which legal authority to contact regarding suspected incidents of child sexual exploitation. Information reported to the CyberTipline is investigated by analysts in NCMEC’s Exploited Child Unit (ECU) and then forwarded to law enforcement for investigation and review, as well as the ESP when appropriate. Recent CyberTipline Success Stories NCMEC extends sincere gratitude to the Oregon Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force for their exemplary work on these cases. Case #1 Four Child-Molestation Victims Identified February 2006. In compliance with Federal law, a registered ESP reported an incident to the CyberTipline in which an individual was allegedly uploading pornographic images of children to an online album. NCMEC’s Exploited Child Unit (ECU) launched an investigation and quickly unearthed information that indicated the reported suspect’s interest in children, along with clues to his identity and location in Eugene, Oregon. The ECU analyst found online profiles in which he discussed his love for children and discovered that he had once worked for a school district. The report was forwarded to the Oregon ICAC Task Force. ICAC investigators positively identified the reported suspect and executed a search warrant on his home. They found tens of thousands of pornographic images of children, numerous child-rearing tapes, and various rifles. The reported suspect admitted to a sexual attraction to children, particularly infants and females ages six to nine years old. He also admitted to sexual contact with at least four children; investigators continue to search for additional victims. Images found on the suspect’s computer indicated that he manufactured child pornography involving at least one of these victims. To date, the suspect has been charged with two counts of possession of child pornography. Additional charges are expected once the forensic examination of the computer is complete, along with the investigation into the molestation and production of child pornography cases. Case #2 Sexual Abuse of a 13-Year Old Prevented April 2006. A concerned Oregon father reported to the CyberTipline a situation involving his 13-year-old daughter and a 32-year-old adult male. The father explained that his child and the reported suspect had both participated in a local theatre production the previous summer. The suspect reportedly flirted with many young girls during rehearsals, but had initiated an email relationship with his daughter and continued their relationship. To investigate, an ECU analyst contacted the child’s family and requested copies of the email correspondence between the reported suspect and child. What they found contained graphic comments by the suspect regarding the child’s body and the sexual activity in which he wanted to engage her. Further, the suspect advised the child that these conversations were their “little secret,” and he instructed her to delete the emails between them. The next day, the distraught parents again contacted the ECU; they learned that the suspect had asked the child to meet him, alone, at a local mall. They provided the ECU analyst two photos of the reported suspect to help law enforcement identify him. All of this information was forwarded to the Oregon ICAC Task Force. That very afternoon, investigators waited for the reported suspect at the mall. They photographed him for nearly two hours as he waited for the child to arrive. She did not; she had been sent out of town by her parents. A second meeting was then arranged at a local park. When the suspect arrived at the park, he was taken into custody without incident. Notably, he was found to be carrying condoms and gifts for the child. The suspect has been charged with Attempted Sodomy in the Second Degree and Attempted Sexual Abuse in the First Degree. http://www.missingkids.com/missingkids/servlet/PageServlet?LanguageCountry=en_US&PageId=2452