In Albuquerque, New Mexico, eight suspected child predators were arrested as part of "Operation Overwatch," an undercover online chat investigation led by the New Mexico Department of Justice.
The operation involved collaboration with the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, and local law enforcement.
The suspects, including an Albuquerque middle school teacher, were charged with crimes such as child solicitation via electronic devices and attempted criminal sexual penetration. The investigation used decoy accounts on various online platforms to catch the suspects.
According to the source quoting law enforcement personnel:
…over the last several weeks, various agents working in an undercover capacity establish decoy accounts on a number of different, nontraditional, digital platforms and digital messaging services...
Accounts used in operation from online platforms
- Kik
- SkiptheGames
- MocoSpace
- Discord
- Grindr
- Fetlife
- Sniffies
What they were able to do was establish both underage personas and presented themselves as either minor children or as adults, usually parents who were offering to traffic children for sex. As a result, they were able to initiate contact with several suspects…
https://www.koat.com/article/new-mexico-child-predators/62602044 (Oct. 15, 2024).
Commentary
Some online platforms provide chatrooms. These chatrooms, if monitored, are primarily monitored by algorithms that identify inappropriate language. To counter those safety features, perpetrators will use code or slang.
To the child target, the use of code and slang may appear exciting and "adult-like". To a predator, it is a means to avoid monitoring, but also to avoid prosecution by creating doubt as to their purpose of communicating with a minor.
That is why in sting operations, law enforcement's goal is to have documented evidence of an online solicitation for sex. Although not stated in the source, undoubtedly there were more than eight solicitations, but only eight were prosecutable.
States have laws that address the enticement and grooming of children online for the purpose of sex. These laws vary by state but generally criminalize the act of establishing an emotional connection with a child to prepare them for abuse.
Federal laws also exist. For example, 18 U.S.C. §2422 makes it a federal offense to use any means of interstate or foreign commerce to persuade, induce, entice, or coerce a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity.
There are many forms of grooming - some online, and others in-person.
Here is a checklist of perpetrator behaviors:
- A desire to be with children/students or one particular child/student without other adults present
- Goes to great lengths to build trust with children/students and adults around them
- Looks for and/or creates opportunities to be with children/students away from parents and other adults
- Provides gifts, money, or attention to children/students without parent, caregiver, or organization knowledge and/or consent
- Takes and collects images of children/students not related to them
- Acts like a child/student and does child-like things to receive attention from children/students
- Prefers the company of children/students to adults and/or is uncomfortable around adults
- Wants children/students to view them as preferable over other adults
- Fixates on one or a few children/students while ignoring others
- Gives special permissions, such as, increasing grades without merit, allowing students to sleep in class, or allowing children to bend organizational rules
- Asking a student to stay after class alone without other adults/students present
- Communicates directly to children/students online or other means without parent, caregiver, and/or employer knowledge
- Disrespects or demeans parents, caregivers, and other adults to children/students
- Frequently touches children/students, sexually or otherwise
- Makes sexual comments or uses sex speak around children/students
- Makes comments to children/students about their bodies or appearance
- Views, stores, and shows pornography to minors
- Provides alcohol or drugs to children/students or permits children/students to abuse alcohol or drugs in their presence
- Has coercive sexual fantasies
- Is impulsive and has antisocial tendencies
- Prefers impersonal sex
- Is hostile toward women
- Has a childhood history of sexual or physical abuse
- Talks about sexual activities regarding children, students, or teens
- Encourages children/students to keep secrets
- Requests adult partners to dress or act like a child/student during sex
- Identifies children/students using sexual slang terms
- Frequently visits places where children/students are present
- Loiters in places where children/students are nude, semi-nude or can be viewed without notice, such as, bathrooms and locker rooms
