NEW SMARTPHONE APP LAUNCHED TO FIND PREDATORS AND RESCUE EXPLOITED CHILDREN

FROM:  U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY 
ICE launches smartphone app to locate predators, rescue children from sexual abuse and exploitation

WASHINGTON — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is launching a new smartphone app – the first of its kind in U.S. federal law enforcement – designed to seek the public's help with fugitive and unknown suspect child predators. All tips can be reported anonymously through the app, by phone or online, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The most urgent case involves an unidentified man wanted for producing child pornography involving the sexual abuse of a 10 to 12-year-old girl. This "John Doe" is an unknown suspect and is believed to be living somewhere in the United States or Canada, but he could be anywhere in the world. The first video file was discovered by Interpol and submitted to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children in 2006. The full series was last seen by HSI special agents in Los Angeles in 2013 during execution of a search warrant. The four videos show the prepubescent girl being sexually abused by an adult male with short brown hair and blue eyes. In the videos, the offender has a full beard and wears glasses. Both he and the child are seen in a room with wood paneled walls with framed photos, a black computer, desk with sewing machine and brown patterned curtains.

In addition to profiling John Doe cases like this, the new smartphone app contains photos and information about known fugitives in HSI criminal cases involving sexually abused and exploited children.

"When children are being sexually abused and exploited, it's a race against the clock to rescue the child and bring the predator to justice," said ICE Acting Director John Sandweg. "These investigations are one of our highest priorities, and in today's world, we need to be technologically savvy and innovative in our approach."

ICE's Office of Public Affairs developed the app with special agents from HSI's Cyber Crimes Center (C3) and field offices across the country in order to seek the public's help with information about child predators wanted for criminal prosecution.

"The creation and launch of this application provides ICE another useful tool to reach the public," said ICE Director of Public Affairs Brian Hale. "We recognize that people receive a great deal of information on their mobile devices and we are hopeful that this app will encourage them to submit tips about suspects and to learn more about our work investigating child exploitation crimes."

The Operation Predator App enables those who download it to receive alerts about wanted predators, to share the information with friends via email and social media tools, and to provide information to HSI by calling or submitting an online tip. Additionally, the app enables users to view news about arrests and prosecutions of child predators and additional resources about ICE and its global partners in the fight against child exploitation.

Currently, the app can be downloaded from Apple's App Store or iTunes. ICE is also planning to expand compatibility to other smartphones in the near future.

HSI is requesting that anyone with information about John Doe or the other fugitives profiled to contact the agency in one of two ways: Call the ICE Tip Line, which is staffed 24-hours a day: (866) 347-2423 from the U.S. & Canada or (802) 872-6199 from anywhere in the world, or complete an online tip form at www.ice.gov/tips/.

TIPS LEAD TO CAPTURE OF U.S. MARSHALS 'FUGITIVE OF THE WEEK'

FROM:  U.S. MARSHALS SERVICES

U.S. Marshals 'Fugitive of the Week' Arrested in Dover Based on Tips
Concord, NH - 'Fugitive of the Week' Jose Garcia, 33, was arrested without incident late this afternoon by the Dover Police Department and NH Probation and Parole Officers. Garcia was arrested at a residence on Baker Street after callers reported seeing Garcia at this location.

The NH Department of Corrections, Probation and Parole division had recently requested that Garcia be considered to be featured as the “Fugitive of the Week.” Garcia was featured just this past week on WTPL-FM, WMUR-TV, The Union Leader and the Nashua Telegraph. This publicity assisted in motivating the public to call in tips that led to the arrest of Garcia. Garcia was being sought on an outstanding arrest warrant for probation violations, as well as a warrant for a domestic violence assault. Garcia was on probation for a prior conviction and sentence for stalking.

As part of this investigation, Garcia was aired in the weekly feature known as the 'Fugitive of the Week' on August 29, 2013. The 'Fugitive of the Week' is broadcast on WTPL-FM, WMUR-TV, The Union Leader, The Nashua Telegraph and prominently featured on the internet.

Information that led to the arrest of Garcia was provided by tipsters that directly contacted probation officers. These tips led investigators to the Dover address, where Garcia was taken into custody without incident. Garcia was arrested on the outstanding probation warrant and was brought to the Somersworth Police Department to be processed on the outstanding arrest warrant for Domestic Assault. Garcia will be held at the Strafford County Jail until his initial court appearance, later this week.

Several member agencies from the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force assisted in the arrest of Garcia, including; NH Probation & Parole, Dover & Somersworth Police Departments, the Strafford County Sheriff’s Office, and deputy U.S. Marshals.

Since the inception of the New Hampshire Joint Fugitive Task Force in 2002, these partnerships have resulted in over 5,370 arrests. These arrests have ranged in seriousness from murder, assault, unregistered sex offenders, probation and parole violations and numerous other serious offenses. Nationally the United States Marshals Service fugitive programs are carried out with local law enforcement in 94 district offices, 85 local fugitive task forces, 7 regional task forces, as well as a growing network of offices in foreign countries.