Task Force Results in the Arrest of 7 Sex Offenders

Los Angeles: The Los Angeles Internet Crimes Against Children (LA ICAC) Taskforce, which is comprised of officers and investigators from local, state and federal law enforcement agencies arrested 7 sex offenders for probation violations.

On June 15, 2007, officers from the Los Angeles, Glendale, and Burbank Police Departments, joined efforts with the LA County Probation, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), California Department of Parole, US Secret Service Electronic Crimes, and the Department of Children’s Services to search the homes and computers of sex offenders who had prior violations for child pornography or crimes against children on the internet.

The multi-agency task force called Operation Shutdown searched the homes and computers of 20 sex offenders and arrested 7 for probation violations. The conditions of probation ranged from the possession of any type of pornography or media to store pornography to having access to the internet. One sex registrant who had a prior arrest for sending lewd and obscene remarks to children was still chatting with juveniles and sending them lewd materials on the internet. Another violator was in possession of child pornography and is being investigated by ICE to determine whether he will be deported.

The LA ICAC, is one of 46 national Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforces designated to investigate child sexual predators who use the internet to pursue their sexual interest in children.

June is internet safety month and parents are encouraged to visit www.lapdonline.org for safety tips to discuss with their children.

For further questions, please contact Lieutenant Felicia Hall at 213-473-3684.