April 05--RICHMOND, Va. -- An undercover joint law enforcement investigation targeting online predators of children has led to 20 arrests across the state, officials announced today.
Operation Phalanx utilized the state's two Internet Crimes Against Children Task Forces in southern and northern Virginia and the computer crime section of the Attorney General's Office to arrest suspected predators in Richmond, Loudoun, Prince William, Fairfax, Virginia Beach and Bedford.
The cases involved solicitation of a minor and distribution of child pornography offenses.
An additional 20 cases generated by the inquiry, which began last year, were referred for investigation and prosecution outside the state and in Australia and France.
Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli announced the operation in a news conference at his office, where he was joined by Virginia State Police Col. Steven Flaherty and Bedford County Sheriff Mike Brown.
"A primary responsibility of law enforcement is to protect our most innocent citizens -- Virginia's children," said Cuccinelli.
Flaherty highlighted the work of the ICAC Digital Forensic Laboratory, supported by two state police regional digital forensic labs, in the success of the operation.
"As the cases and tips continue to increase, so will the vigilance and determination of the NOVA/DC ICAC Task Force members to safeguard the Commonwealth from those who choose to prey upon our children," he said.
The Northern Virginia ICAC is based with the Virginia State Police, and the Southern Virginia ICAC is with the Bedford County Sheriff's Office. Comprised of federal state and local law enforcement officers, they funnel tips and leads involving child exploitation crimes, such as child pornography and online solicitation of minors.
(This has been a breaking news update. Check back for more details as they become available. Read more in tomorrow's Richmond Times-Dispatch.)
Copyright 2012 - Richmond Times-Dispatch, Va.
