On May 15, 2008, based on a tip from Yahoo to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, a search warrant for unlawful images was served at the Mesa, Arizona dwelling of Timothy A. Bales. Bales, a 54 year old unmarried telemarketer, was taken into custody and evidence was seized. Police are seeking to learn the identities of persons who were involved in unlawful activities with Bales. Anyone with information about unlawful activities involving Bales may contact Sgt. Frank Kardasz of the Phoenix PD/AZ ICAC Task Force at 602-256-3404.

Created by NCMEC, "Take 25" is a national child safety campaign that encourages adults to take time to talk to their children about safety. Upcoming "Take 25" events include: Phoenix at US Airways Center on June 3, 2008 and in Tucson at Doolan Middle School on May 20, 2008. Read More >>

The Arizona ICAC is pleased to announce the addition of the Gila County Attorney's Office as a Task Force affiliate. On April 10, 2008, Gila County Attorney Daisy Flores officially joined the Task Force. The addition of the Gila County Attorney's Office brings the Task Force strength to 53 law enforcement agencies statewide.

Tempe Police ICAC and Phoenix Suns star Shaquille O'Neal team to prevent Internet crimes against children. Story by William Hermann of the Arizona Republic. Read More >>

The Arizona Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force is a partially grant-funded network of Arizona law enforcement personnel whose mission is to apprehend and bring to justice Internet sexual predators and Internet child pornographers. Within Arizona the Task Force is networked through memoranda of understanding with 52 state, county and local law enforcement agencies. The Arizona ICAC is also part of a larger nationwide network of 56 regional ICAC Task Forces located throughout the U.S. and partly funded by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.

Task Force investigations focus primarily on the Arizona crimes of sexual exploitation of a minor – unlawful images (ARS 13-3553) and the luring of minors for sexual exploitation (ARS 13-3554). Investigators also work cooperatively with Federal colleagues from the F.B.I., I.C.E., U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Secret Service, and the U.S. Marshals Service in the enforcement of United States Code violations involving Internet crimes against children.

Since 1998, detectives, special agents and prosecutors have recorded over 3,500 investigations resulting in over 350 arrests or indictments. Offenders have received over 900 years incarceration. Most offenders also receive lifetime probation and must register as sex offenders. Investigations have crossed county, state and national borders. Dr. Frank Kardasz, a sergeant with the Phoenix Police Department, is the project director for the AZ ICAC.

Task Force education efforts have provided Internet crime prevention training to over 18,000 Arizona citizens and youth at community meetings, schools and colleges throughout the state. Over 5,000 law enforcement officers have received training through the Arizona Task Force.

Further information about the Arizona ICAC Task Force can be obtained by contacting Dr. Frank Kardasz at 602 256 3404 or by email at frank.kardasz@phoenix.gov

On April 3, 2008, Arizona Congressman Trent Franks honored the work of the Arizona ICAC Task Force at a ceremony in Washington D.C. The event was sponsored by the QWest Foundation and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Frank Kardasz spoke on behalf of the Arizona ICAC: "I am pleased to accept on behalf of my colleagues at the local state and federal levels who work hard each day to bring Internet sex offenders to justice." At the ceremony NCMEC and QWest also announced a new service; Netsmartz 411. Netsmartz 411 is an online resource where children and parents may find answers to questions about Internet safety. Learn more about Netsmartz 411 at: http://www.netsmartz411.org/

The AZ ICAC is pleased to announce the arrest of 20 offenders during the last months of 2007. Read More>>

On April 30, 2008 Richard Michael Polk, age 50, was arrested by members of the Phoenix Police Department assigned to the Arizona Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. The investigation was based on information originally developed by the Department of Homeland Security Immigration and Customs Enforcement Cybercrimes Division. Investigators gathered information leading to Polk's home in Surprise, Arizona where a search warrant was served and evidence was seized. Agents from the FBI and Scottsdale PD also assisted in the investigation. Polk was arrested in Phoenix where he worked as a Phoenix PD homicide detective. He was charged with ten counts of sexual exploitation of a minor (unlawful images). The case will be submitted to the Maricopa County Attorney's Office for prosecution. Polk is free on $25,000 bond.

On March 8, 2008, a formal relationship was established adding the US Attorney's Office for the Arizona District to the list of AZ ICAC Task Force colleagues. The MOU builds upon the solid foundations and cooperative relationships that were always present in an informal way between the agencies. Although many Phoenix-area AZ ICAC Task Force cases are prosecuted through the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office under tough Arizona laws, the MOU with the U.S. Attorneys provides one more avenue where offenders can be brought to justice.

The Arizona ICAC is pleased to announce the addition of the Apache Junction Police Department as a Task Force affiliate. On March 21, 2008, Acting Chief Thomas E. Kelley officially joined the Task Force. The addition of the Apache Junction PD brings the Task Force strength to 52 law enforcement agencies statewide.

On January 9, 2007, Guillermo Abraham Ulloa entered a guilty plea in the Maricopa County Superior Court to the crime of luring a minor for sexual exploitation. The case began as a computer-related undercover investigation and also resulted in the discovery of child pornography. On February 5, 2007, Ulloa requested to travel to El Paso, Texas but the Court denied the request. Ulloa was scheduled to be sentenced for the offense on March 1, 2007, but he failed to appear. A bench warrant was issued. He may be in the company of his wife, Sandi Ramirez Ulloa. Read More>>

Sarvpreet Thapar used the Internet for the purpose of attempting to meet a minor for sex acts. An arrest warrant has been issued for his arrest. If you have information concerning this person please contact your local police department. Read More>>

An investigation into unlawful images led to the identification of a suspected contact offender. Police seek to learn the identities of additional victims. Read More (PDF)

Audrey Sibley, (Miss Arizona 2005) is an active supporter of and spokesperson for the Arizona ICAC Task Force. Audrey is an accomplished Internet crime prevention advocate and a professional public speaker. She has provided NCMEC NETSMARTZ training to thousands of children, teens, adults and law enforcement officers. Read about Audrey’s adventures at: http://www.audreysibley.blogspot.com/

The AZ ICAC is pleased to be an active participant in Project Safe Childhood, a Department of Justice initiative designed to protect children from sex offenders. Read More >>

The arrest of a Phoenix man for possessing and trafficking child pornography resulted in members of the AZ ICAC Task Force being honored as Child Defenders of the Month by the National Law Center for Children and Families. Read more >>

The Arizona ICAC Task Force is pleased to announce the addition of the Yavapai County Attorney’s Office as a Task Force affiliate. On May 25, 2007, Sheila S. Polk, County Attorney for Yavapai, officially joined the Task Force. The addition of the Yavapai County Attorney’s Office brings the Task Force strength to 50 law enforcement agencies statewide.

On October 3, 2007 the Phoenix City Council adopted Ordinance S-34440 authorizing the continuation of grant-funding from the Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention for the Arizona Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Continued funding means that over 50 federal, state and local Arizona-based law enforcement agencies affiliated with the Arizona Task Force can continue to battle Internet sexual predators and others who use the Internet to sexually exploit minors. In association with the U.S. Attorney General’s Project Safe Childhood, members of the AZ ICAC will persist in their efforts to apprehend offenders and prevent Internet crimes against children. Read more >>

The popular social networking site MySpace has provided the attached handy list of tips for parents. Read More >>

The AZ ICAC is pleased to announce the arrest of 41 offenders during the first six months of 2007. Read More >>

In September 2001 David Bruce Andrews plead guilty to the crime of sexual exploitation of a minor (child pornography). He never appeared for sentencing and has been wanted ever since. Read more >>

In February 2007, during a proactive investigation, a detective of the Illinois AG’s ICAC/Wheaton, PD developed information about a trafficker of unlawful images. The source of the images was traced to Phoenix Arizona. A detective of the AZ ICAC/Phoenix PD continued the investigation and developed information resulting in a search warrant for the Phoenix residence of Robert Chunn.

On 10/10/07 the search warrant was served at Chunn’s dwelling. Chunn is an unmarried 26 year old electrician who lives with his girlfriend. Assisting in the search were investigators from Phoenix PD, Scottsdale PD, FBI and ICE. Evidence was seized and Chunn made admissions to the offenses.

Chunn was arrested and charged with ten counts of sexual exploitation of a minor (child porn*graphy). His bond was set at $88,000. The case will be submitted to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office for prosecution.

On October 17, 2004, a 16 year old employee of Vetter Packing and Moving reported that her boss, 49 year old Tommy Vetter, had shown her images of child pornography on a computer at their Phoenix workplace. Investigators from the Phoenix ICAC Task Force and FBI diligently worked on the case. A search warrant was served at the business and computers were seized. Detectives interviewed Vetter, a divorced father of two. An investigator from the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office conducted a forensics examination of Vetter’s computer and found numerous unlawful images. The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office represented the state and Vetter was indicted by a grand jury in March, 2006. On April 18, 2007, Vetter plead guilty to two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor (child pornography). He was sentenced to ten years prison followed by 99 years probation and registration as a sex offender.

Ronald Sirull, owner of Brutus the Skydiving Dog was sentenced to 17 years prison for unlawful images: Investigators seek to learn the identities of his victims. Read More >>

On August 5, 2007, Pinal County Sheriff’s arrested a local man for sexual exploitation of a minor and surreptitious videotaping. Read More >>

The Arizona Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force recently completed a 25-month operation resulting in 1,310 investigations, 100 arrests and Internet crime prevention training for over 11,000 children, adults and law enforcement officers. Read More >>

On April 5, 2007, Jeremy Eugene Helman was sentenced for luring a minor for sexual exploitation. >>Read more

Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard’s message about Internet safety.
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