GEORGE E. B. HOLDING

CONTACT: 919/856-4530

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

THURSDAY - JUNE 14, 2007

INVESTIGATORS, PROSECUTORS CONVENE TO COMBAT CHILD SEX ABUSE

GREENSBORO – Over 100 investigators and prosecutors from every level of law enforcement across the state completed a two-day program of training and collaboration sessions designed to ensure effective prosecution of child predators in North Carolina. Every geographical area of the state was represented.

The Project Safe Childhood/Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force conference featured speakers from law enforcement, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and the medical community, all targeted at understanding and battling the growing threat presented by criminals who use new technologies to sexually exploit and abuse children. “The challenge we face is startling; an estimated 32,000 suspects in North Carolina alone are using peer-to-peer technology to exchange images of hardcore child pornography. Peer-to-peer technologies represent only one of many means by which this crime is committed, and thus even this estimate represents only a fraction of the criminal conduct,” said George E. B. Holding, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina. “It is awe-inspiring to see the dedication of so many people from so many different backgrounds who have stepped forward to meet criminals at the cutting edge of technology to protect our children. The investigators and prosecutors who met here are prepared for the challenge and will work together to make sure that those who seek to revel in the sexual abuse of children are investigated, caught and punished with every tool available to us. This conference will only build on the success Project Safe Childhood and the North Carolina ICAC have had thus far.”

Project Safe Childhood, a national program announced by Attorney General Alberto Gonzales earlier this year, is aimed at ensuring that child exploitation criminals are effectively prosecuted by making full use of all available law enforcement resources at every level, without the interference of artificial obstacles between federal, state and local law enforcement. More information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

News releases are available on the U. S. Attorney’s web page at www.usdoj.gov/usao/nce within 48 hours of release.