Investigates

Action News Jax Investigates: New technology gives pedophiles easy access to target and exploit kids

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Federal agents are facing predators head on a digital battlefield.

"My dad was a serial sex offender," Connie Rose said. "He had over 300 victims."

Rose said photos of her as a teenager were carefully crafted by her father. A man she says sexually abused her for 14 years.

It is a part of a dark past, Rose shares to shed light on a chronic and disturbing problem -- the sexual abuse and exploitation of children.

When Rose turned 16, her father became her pimp. He secretly prostituted her at private parties and homes.

"I was sexually abused and exploited for so many years of my life that to go into the world of prostitution in my eyes was so much better to have sex with other people than to not have sex with my dad anymore," Rose said.

More than 1,000 victims of child sex abuse and online exploitation were "rescued or identified" by Homeland Security Investigations, or HIS, in the last year. Twenty-three of those children were from Central and Northeast Florida, including one from Jacksonville.

"Right when you think you've seen it all, you're shocked by the depravity of humanity," said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Stephen Kleppe.

Action News Jax Tenikka Hughes traveled to Tampa where she was given access to agents with HSI.

After nearly 20 years, Kleppe who is also a father, said the images and videos he sees still rocks him to the core.

"It is the most horrific criminal activity I've ever encountered," Kleppe said.

Portable tablets, smartphones and high capacity hard drives are all examples of technology that can make our lives more convenient.  But investigators say it's also giving predators more access and creating new challenges for investigators working to stop them.

"So that means we just have to look at that much more stuff," said Senior Computer Forensic Analyst Special Agent Kevin Power.

Power uses an arsenal of advanced technology and unique partnerships like the HERO Corp, where wounded and disabled veterans train in computer forensics and law enforcement techniques to help federal agents track predators.

Another game changer is the data sharing program "Project VIC" where millions of online images compiled into a central database are each given a unique identifier or electronic fingerprint. That fingerprint is then used to sweep through large amounts of evidence quickly.

"It saves us a tremendous amount of time that we can analyze weeks' worth of work in hours," Power said.
The time saved frees up officers to save more children.

"These are our children and they are our future, and if they found that much in 2015 what are they going to find in 2016?" Rose asked. "How much faster can we get on the ground with our boots running to like really make a difference?"

Both Rose and investigators say parent and community involvement is key in preventing child sex abuse and online exploitation.

For more information and resources on how to help your children be smart and stay safe online go to https://www.ice.gov/cyber-crimes/iguardian

To learn more about Selah Freedom, visit http://www.selahfreedom.com/