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INTERNET TASK FORCE BREAKS NATIONAL ARREST RECORD...AGAIN
The Utah Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force arrested five men last night for allegedly using the Internet to arrange to have sex with a child. The number breaks the task force's national record of four arrests in one night and a previous record of three arrests in a single night.
The roundup was even more unusual because four of the suspects arrived in the same vehicle.
"It's the first time we've had a car load of guys show up to have sex with an underage girl," says Ken Hansen, director of the Utah ICAC Task Force. "The most disturbing aspect of all this is that they may have abused two young girls six weeks earlier."
Investigators are hoping the alleged victims will come forward and contact authorities at (801)579-4525.
The four men and the other suspect arrested last night used Internet chat rooms to contact undercover officers posing as children.
The Utah ICAC Task Force has made more than 250 arrests since it started three and a half years ago. Last year the task force received the FBI Director's Award for Excellence for bringing different agencies together to fight crimes against children and Internet child pornography.
Assistant Attorney General Paul Amann will review the five cases for possible charges. "The Utah Attorney General's Office has spent a lot of time and energy warning the public about sexual predators on the Internet. These arrests make it clear that predators are still out there and that children are still at risk on the Internet."
The multi-jurisdictional task force includes agents from the Attorney General's Office, FBI, Salt Lake City Police Department, West Valley City Police Department, Utah Department of Corrections, Utah Department of Public Safety, Utah Division of Adult Probation and Parole Office and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
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