January 27, 2006

FOUR CHILD PREDATORS ARRESTED IN RHODE ISLAND
Arrests are part of National Enforcement Program Targeting Sexual Predators

PROVIDENCE, RI-Special Agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Rhode Island have arrested four child predators over the past two weeks. The arrests are part of ICE's Operation Predator, a nationwide ICE initiative to protect children from criminal alien sex offenders, child sex tourists, Internet child pornographers, human traffickers, and other predatory criminals.

The four individuals arrested have all been either convicted of or charged with sex crimes against children, including Third Degree Sexual Assault Against a Minor, Second Degree Child Molestation, and First Degree Child Molestation. Based upon their convictions and immigration violations, these individuals are subject to deportation, pending removal proceedings before a federal Immigration Judge.

"Crimes against children are reprehensible," said Matthew J. Etre, acting special agent-in-charge of ICE in New England. "ICE will continue to use its broad range of authorities to aggressively seek out and arrest those who prey on our society's most vulnerable members."

The arrested criminals are from Guatemala. They all remain in ICE custody pending the outcome of their individual cases.

Since Operation Predator began in July 2003, ICE has arrested more than 6,800 child sex predators nationwide.

ICE in New England has arrested over 215 predators New England wide, more than 35 of which have been arrested in Rhode Island.

The targets of Operation Predator include U.S. citizens suspected of sex crimes against children as well as non-citizen sex offenders whose crimes make them subject to removal from the United States.

As part of Operation Predator, ICE is partnering with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). ICE has assigned agents to work full-time at NCMEC, processing tips received on the NCMEC hotline/Internet site and sending those leads to ICE field offices, such as Alexandria. In addition, ICE has established a toll-free number for the public to report information about child sex offenders and others who put children at risk. The number, 1-866-DHS-2ICE, is monitored 24 hours a day.

Locally in Rhode Island, ICE has partnered with the Rhode Island Department of Corrections Adult Probation and Parole Unit.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was established in March 2003 as the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security. ICE is comprised of five integrated divisions that form a 21st century law enforcement agency with broad responsibilities for a number of key homeland security priorities.

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