DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL HONORS ALABAMA, GEORGIA TASK FORCES FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY INVESTIGATION

BIRMINGHAM – Deputy Attorney General Rod J. Rosenstein today recognized the Alabama and Georgia Internet Crimes Against Children task forces for their coordinated investigation that resulted in 54 search warrants being served and the arrest of 29 suspects from both states on charges of possession and distribution of child pornography, announce Acting U.S. Attorney Robert O. Posey.

Rosenstein presented the Attorney General’s Special Commendation to representatives of the Alabama and Georgia Internet Crimes Against Children task forces during the Department’s National Missing Children’s Day ceremony. The special commendation recognizes Internet Crimes Against Children task forces or affiliate agencies for making significant investigative or program contributions.

“The work of our ICAC task forces exemplifies the effective collaboration of our federal, state, and local partners,” Posey said. “The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, with help from police agencies across Alabama, leads our state’s task force. In this operation, numerous law enforcement agencies from the Northern District of Alabama provided invaluable assistance in executing warrants and arresting those engaged in exploitation of illegal images of children.”

The two task forces led coordinated investigations that included more than 70 federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. In addition to the search warrants and arrests made, the investigation — dubbed “Operation: Southern Impact”— also resulted in the seizure of 731 digital devices as evidence. Additional charges are expected as data on the seized devices are analyzed.

1. addition to the two task forces, the deputy attorney general recognized the efforts of two law enforcement officers and a private citizen for their efforts to protect children. Rosenstein also recognized Audrey Link, a fifth grader at Resurrection Catholic School in Lakeland, Florida, as the 18th winner of the Annual National Missing Children’s Day poster contest.

Additional information is available online about National Missing Children’s Day.

The Office of Justice Programs, headed by Acting Assistant Attorney General Alan R. Hanson, provides federal leadership in developing the nation’s capacity to prevent and control crime, administer justice and assist victims. OJP has six bureaus and offices: the Bureau of Justice Assistance; the Bureau of Justice Statistics; the National Institute of Justice; the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention; the Office for Victims of Crime; and the Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering and Tracking (SMART). More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.

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