How Police Track Cyber-Predators

With millions of children now spending time regularly on internet chat rooms talking with people they have never met, they sometimes don't realize the dangers involved. They may be having conversations with sex predators that are also on line, and not know it. Police units have been set up nationwide specifically to catch on-line sex predators who attempt to set up meetings with underage children with the intention of having sexual encounters. One of the main problems is that pedophiles can hide under assumed names and identities, easily misleading those they are engaging in conversation.

Police Counter Attack

Operation Blue Ridge Thunder is one of the most successful programs set up by police in Bedford County, Virginia. The unit was created back in 1998 after an internet predator targeted a young girl in the area. A predator had been e-mailing a 13-year-old girl and travelled to Virginia to have sex with her. In actuality, his "real" correspondent was a 21-year-old police officer from Blue Ridge Thunder. It appeared that the man may have had additional unworthy intentions as they found an axe handle and a knife in his car when they arrested him. He was sentenced to three years in prison.

How the Unit Operates

Each day members of the unit spend hours online chatting with various individuals in chat rooms in an undercover capacity. They will pose sometimes as children of either sex or sometimes as adults pretending to be interested in trading child pornography. Mike Brown, the creator of the unit, stated that they can stay online around the clock and communicate with individuals they know are surfing the web looking for children.

Legal Assistance is Vital

In many instances police have caught cyber-predators through programs like these and the penalties can be harsh. These offenses can be categorized as sex crimes and can also be categorized as internet crimes. If you or someone you know has been accused of such a crime in the Brooklyn area, you should contact an experienced Brooklyn criminal defense lawyer immediately. At the Law Offices of David Levine, we can help. Mr. Levine has over 15 years of experience and is well known for his professionalism and successful handling of cases.  Working with a competent attorney can mean the difference between your continued freedom and possible years of imprisonment.