Feds want to share information on preventing child sexual exploitation, and they'll even come to you

Federal agents really want to talk to you about how to keep kids safe from sexual exploitation.

All they need is an invite to your parent-teacher association, church, club, youth sports or homeowners association meetings.

You put on the coffee, they'll bring their revamped "Project iGuardian" program about child sexual abuse material - aka "CSAM."

"We can do it for any group of parents who want to listen," Homeland Security Investigations-Chicago Special Agent Steven Moran said.

Thanks to an increase in funding, the presentations now are going to be updated every month - because those who perpetrate these crimes constantly are updating their skills, tactics and resources.

There are four program levels: one for adults/parents; one for teenagers; one for adolescents; and one for elementary schoolchildren.

The parental one is quite detailed, but "It is not necessarily toward scaring the parents," Moran said.

It aims to get parents' heads out of the sand about who can fall prey and who the predators are. The answers: Any child, and people you least suspect.

"A lot of times parents' attitude is that (the problem) is not that prevalent, and it is 'not going to happen to my kid,'" Moran said.

Not about smarts

Victimization has nothing to do with how smart or gullible your child is, Moran said.

Predators "get more and more creative to try to victimize a kid. These guys are focused on doing this," he said.

Part of the parental presentation is a video titled "Monster." In it, an actor portrays how CSAM predators are monsters hiding in plain sight - your co-worker at the office, a youth sports coach, a family member.

Predators develop a relationship with kids, then get them to send images of themselves undressing, showing their private parts or performing sexual acts. Those images are then often shared with other predators.

The program includes information on recent cases in the area. That includes that of Nick Stauffer, a business executive living in a penthouse apartment overlooking the Chicago River when he was arrested earlier this year as part of Operation Swipe Left. He has been charged with being part of a Telegram app group that traded child pornography and discussed abducting children. The members were affluent men in their 20s, Moran said.

"So, it is not the creepy unemployed guy living in his parents' basement," Moran said.

At a presentation about the program this week, HSI showed dozens of social media and messaging apps we've never heard of used by offenders.

Moran said CSAM predators have support communities, typically on the "dark web," where they discuss tactics.

He noted that in 2022, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received 32 million reports about CSAM. "I already know this number is much higher for 2023," Moran said.

Online gaming

Online video gaming is another way predators contact children. They become friends, then convince the children to contact them through messaging apps.

In particular, investigators are seeing an issue with the gaming platform Roblox, due to the financial incentives in the games, Moran said. Predators can offer "Robux" currency to entice children into talking with them. Robux can be redeemed for actual money.

"Technology is the modern playground. Predators go where kids go," Moran said.

And sexploitation and sextortion is trending in the Chicago area, Moran said. He said some of the perpetrators get sexual gratification from the victimization itself, not necessarily the images they blackmail the victims into sending.

What to do

The presentations also talk about what to do if your child is exploited.

First, resist the urge to delete the messages and photos. They are evidence, Moran said. (The images may be able to be removed later, by the "Take Them Down" campaign NCMEC has started.)

Second, call police or Homeland Security Investigations. It's a myth that your child can get in trouble because they took the pictures - they are victims, Moran said.

To arrange for a presentation on all this, call the Homeland Security Investigations Lombard office at (630) 574-4129 and ask for Moran. You can also email iguardian.HQ@hsi.dhs.gov.

Holiday observance

Enjoy the season, but also keep an eye out for trouble.

That was the message from Illinois State Police, which issued an alert Thursday saying rising tensions in the Middle East could lead to violence by terrorist groups and their supporters here in the U.S., especially over the holidays.

"We all must remain on guard against both terrorism and hate crimes during this holiday season," said state police Director Brendan F. Kelly in the alert. "If you see something that seems out of place or someone acting in a manner that doesn't seem right, report it to your local law enforcement."

Cheery digs

Oak Brook Police Department's comfort dog, Bandit, has a nice new office, judging by the photos Deputy Chief Reid Foltyniewicz sent us.

The digs for the goldendoodle were designed and painted by a local school art teacher. You can follow Bandit's adventures on Instagram, at pawfficerbandkitk907.

• Do you have a tip or a comment? Email us at copsandcrime@dailyherald.com.