Robert S. Mueller, III
Director
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Innocence Lost/Operation Cross Country Press Conference
Washington, D.C.
June 25, 2008
Good afternoon. The Innocence Lost National Initiative’s
mission is to combat the growing problem of sexual exploitation
of domestic children through prostitution.
The key to its success has been the strong coordination of some
24 task forces and working groups around the nation. While the
number of FBI resources dedicated to this initiative is relatively
small, we rely on the force multiplier effect to address this crime
problem.
Together with our local, state, and federal partners, we gather
and share intelligence…we train personnel to investigate
and disrupt criminal enterprises and put behind bars those individuals
who exploit children.
I want to thank our partners for their support, in particular
the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division and Child Exploitation-Obscenity
Section and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
I particularly want to thank Ernie Allen of the National Center
for Missing and Exploited Children for his dedication and leadership
and for his long-time commitment—especially in the past five
years—in support of Innocence Lost.
To date, the Innocence Lost investigations have led to the conviction
of 308 individuals on a combination of state and federal charges,
and over the past two years, approximately half of these convictions
have been federal convictions. These convictions have resulted
in lengthy sentences—in some cases up to life—and the
seizure of over $3 million in assets.
But most importantly, our efforts have led to the recovery of
433 child victims.
Just this past week, the FBI joined our law enforcement partners
in a five-day national enforcement action. This operation, known
as Operation Cross Country, included takedown operations in 16
cities across the country and led to the removal of 21 children
from the cycle of victimization.
We together have no higher calling than to protect our children
and to safeguard their innocence. Yet, the sex trafficking of children
remains one of the most violent and unforgivable crimes in this
country.
What is different as we stand here today is that we are faced
with the increasing use of social network sites and other advances
in technology to carry out these crimes and facilitate these criminal
enterprises. Because of the accessibility and the anonymity the
internet provides, Main Street is quickly becoming an online avenue.
And yet, despite these challenges, those who exploit children
should know they will be brought to justice.
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