Source: ASACP – Protecting Your Business by Protecting Children
By: Company Press Release
On July 25, 2005, the CyberTipline received a report from a major commercial Internet Service Provider (ISP) regarding a subscriber who allegedly sent a pornographic image of a child via email. In compliance with federal law, the ISP provided the CyberTipline with the incident information, including the allegedly illegal image.
An Exploited Child Unit (ECU) Analyst viewed the uploaded file and observed what appeared to be a pornographic image depicting a prepubescent female. Included in the CyberTipline report was the email address of the person who sent the file, as well as the zip code linked to the reported target’s billing information.
After very thorough searches on this information, the zip code was determined to be associated with Palm City, Florida. The ECU analyst contacted the Martin County Sheriff’s Office and detectives coordinated with the Broward County Sheriff’s Office, an OJJDP-funded Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, to obtain the image.
On July 27, 2005, not even 50 hours after receiving the initial CyberTipline report, the Martin County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at the suspect’s residence. A plethora of potential evidence was seized, including, but not limited to, floppy disks, tapes, cameras, and a camcorder. The suspect was arrested on the July 28 and confessed to downloading and sending child pornography.
The 43-year-old suspect was charged with one count of possessing child pornography and is currently being held on $850,000 bond. Additional charges will be added after completion of the evidence review.
For more information about NCMEC, please call 1-800-THE-LOST or go online to:
* MissingKids.com for child safety information, an international database of missing children, and other NCMEC resources
* NetSmartz.org for animated, 3D Internet safety games and lessons
* CyberTipline.com for reporting child pornography and sexual exploitation, including unsolicited obscene material sent to a child
Joan Irvine
Executive Director
ASACP
Protecting Your Business by Protecting Children
