SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, May 3, 2024 (Gephardt Daily) — Utah’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force just completed a multi-agency strike that netted 15 arrests in five counties of alleged sexual predators of children.
Officials described Operation Cyber Strike as a four-day sweep hosted by the Utah County Sheriff’s Office involving more 70 task force agents from 31 federal, state and local law enforcement agencies across Utah.
“The felony level charges these 15 offenders face include (but are not limited to) the sexual exploitation of a minor, dealing in harmful materials to a minor, enticing a minor, and human trafficking of a child,” according to the Utah Attorney General’s Office. The arrests occurred in Weber, Davis, Salt Lake, Summit, and Utah counties.
Residential search warrants were served at the homes of offenders who downloaded, viewed, and distributed child sexual abuse material (CSAM) in the April 22-25 operation.
Task force agents also conducted undercover chat investigations on various social media platforms to find offenders who sought to meet with children for sexual activity, effectively drawing out the suspects by feigning interest in their activities.
Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes said, “As disturbing as it is to have so many predators lurking in social media and gaming apps, it is equally comforting to know how effective our ICAC team is at combating those who actively seek to exploit children.”
