WSVN — Law enforcement around the world has a secret weapon in a seemingly never-ending battle against Internet child pornography. And it’s located right here in South Florida. 7’s Carmel Cafiero has our special assignment report– "High-Tech Hunt." And we must warn you… some of the details in this story are disturbing.
The colored dots lighting up this world map point to a big problem.
Each one represents a computer distributing lewd images of children– many showing children being sexually abused– all of this happening in real time.
Bill Wiltse: "It’s far more prevalent than I think most anyone would believe. We’re talking 30 to 50 million records into our system every single day worldwide."
Bill Wiltse is the executive vice president of the Child Rescue Coalition.
The Boca Raton based non-profit is behind this powerful software that scours the seedier parts of the Internet in a 24/7 search for child porn.
Bill Wiltse: "The red dots are, obviously, our way to show sort of the scope, globally, of the problem."
But it’s on a local level that the graphic details come into frightening focus.
Bill Wiltse: "This report is actually from a Target in Hollywood. This individual is most likely interested in an average of 10-year-old female victims."
And in Miami-Dade…
Bill Wiltse: "This particular address, resolves in Miami. This is someone who has been seen online very recently, distributing one or more of the files that you see on the screen right now. Pregnant and incest- incest, incest."
The Child Rescue Coalition does not know who is watching or downloading the images, or even where exactly they live.
Bill Wiltse: "We don’t have a dot on top of somebody’s house that says ‘Here is where the illegal activity is occurring.’"
Instead, the coalition provides law enforcement with the computer’s IP address. Police then get a subpoena for the home address and a search warrant to go inside. They hope it’s enough to make an arrest.
Bill Wiltse: "Our system is responsible for the arrest of a pediatric oncologist."
And gymnastics coach Carl Lechner was arrested last year after information from the Child Rescue Coalition led deputies to his Lauderdale Lakes home.
There, investigators say they found seven videos of child pornography. Lechner has pleaded not guilty.
Det. Rob Mauro, Fort Lauderdale Police: "Whether it be the data side of your cell phone, open Wi-Fi, secure Wi-Fi, good ol’ plug in the computer Internet, it’s all occurring on IP addresses."
Detective Rob Mauro says he’s used the program to make 20 to 30 arrests.
Det. Rob Mauro: "We’re going after the worst of the worst. The type of files we’re seeing are infants, toddlers, young children, being sexually abused by adults."
Of course, not everyone will be caught.
Just look at the child porn activity in Florida over the last year. Mauro has a message for those looking to play the odds with police.
Det. Rob Mauro: "See ya’ soon."
The Child Rescue Coalition says its software, which it provides free to law enforcement, is responsible for 6,500 hundred arrests worldwide.
Carmel Cafiero, 7News.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Child Rescue Coalition
https://childrescuecoalition.org
Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force:
www.icactaskforce.org