Alicia's Law Funding Internet Sex Predator Fight|ABC 13

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Alicia's Law Funding Internet Sex Predator Fight

posted 11:26 pm Tue May 20, 2008 - Bedford Co., VA

reporter: Jeremy Mills posted by: Webteam

tags: child porn • pornography • predators • computer

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It's a move investigators say will double their ability to protect your children from internet sex predators. Tuesday, the "Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force", based in Bedford County, announced a funding increase of $750,000.

The General Assembly provided the extra funds. 'Alicia's Law' will provide those dollars for Blue Ridge Thunder in Bedford and another task force in Northern Virginia. Flanked by the delegate who introduced "Alicia's Law' and the young lady who inspired it, Sheriff Mike Brown announced plans to increase his hunt for online predators.

Sheriff Mike Brown, Bedford County - "It actually doubles what we get from the federal government."

It will double the number of full-time investigators from three to six. And also adds new equipment, like electronic forensic tools and dedicated high-speed connections for assisting agencies.

Alicia Kozakiewicz, Victim of Internet Predator - "Who couldn't throw money at this issue, it is so important."

Six years ago, Alicia Kozakiewicz was held captive in a Virginia basement by a man she met online.

Kozakiewicz - "They don't realize that it is babies being tortured and humiliated and people are watching it for enjoyment and that's really scary."

Over the past year, Blue Ridge Thunder was responsible for 52 arrests and convictions. They expect at least twice as many next year.

Del. Brian Moran, D-46th District - "So we're putting the predators on notice that we will find you, arrest you, prosecute you and put you in prison for a very, very long time."

Sheriff Mike Brown says there are literally hundreds of thousands of internet predators out there. When we asked him if six investigators would be enough, he said 600 investigators wouldn't be enough.

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