Officials said all defendants were charged with crimes that included child solicitation using electronic devices.
Sources: FBI-Albuquerque, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico (via Facebook)
Graphics: Courtesy
Federal and local law enforcement agencies across New Mexico are continuing efforts to combat online child exploitation following a recent undercover investigation that resulted in the arrest of 15 individuals accused of attempting to engage in sexual activity with minors.
According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation Albuquerque Field Office, the arrests stemmed from an undercover online chat operation targeting suspected child predators. Officials said all defendants were charged with crimes that included child solicitation using electronic devices.
The investigation was led by the FBI Albuquerque Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force with assistance from the New Mexico Department of Justice, Albuquerque Police Department, Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office, Santa Fe Police Department, the Second Judicial District Attorney’s Office, and the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico.
Federal officials noted the operation was conducted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in 2006 to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse, particularly crimes involving online communication and internet-based exploitation.
At the same time, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico and the New Mexico Collaborative Human Trafficking Task Force are also promoting a public awareness and training event focused on online grooming and child exploitation prevention.
The training event is scheduled for Tuesday, June 16 from 10 a.m. to noon. According to organizers, the event will include presentations on recognizing online exploitation, understanding grooming behavior, practical prevention strategies, and available community resources. Officials said attendees will hear insights drawn from real investigations and law enforcement experience.
The training will feature a keynote address by Ryan Ellison followed by a question-and-answer session.
Additional information and registration details are available here: [Registration Link]
Federal authorities are encouraging the public to remain vigilant regarding online child exploitation and to report suspected abuse or exploitation through the FBI’s tip line, local FBI field offices, or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s Cyber Tipline.
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