By SONIA AHMED
LIBERTY, NY ― Sixteen individuals have been arrested as a result of two operation efforts by theVillage of Liberty Police Department, Operation Registry Repo and Operation Dangerous DM’s, according to information shared at an August 20 press conference.
Operation Registry Repo was an operation targeting prior sex offenders living in Liberty that officers discovered had not followed proper sex offender registry requirements, according to Liberty Police Chief Steve D’Agata.
After gathering evidence on offenders that did not properly register, law enforcement conducted a coordinated arrest of 10 individuals on August 12, he continued.
D’Agata emphasized that one of the things many convicted offenders must do is register for internet identifiers. Internet identifiers are a disclosure to law enforcement of any email, social media or other platforms used to chat, D’Agata explained to the River Reporter. Offenders must also disclose which internet provider they are using, he furthered.
“That is why internet identifiers matter. A person required by law to register cannot simply disappear behind a new username, screen name, or online account.” he said.
Operation Dangerous DM’s was a sting operation spanning several months where law enforcement officials posed as underage children and communicated with individuals allegedly intending to engage in sexual activity with the ‘child’, according to D’Agata.
Many individuals were not from Liberty, but traveled to Liberty to meet with the ‘child’. Six individuals have been arrested as a result of this operation and face charges such as 2nd degree attempted rape, attempted dissemination of indecent material to minors, and attempted luring of a child into a vehicle or building to commit a crime.
“The suspects had repeated opportunities to end those conversations and walk away. Instead, the allegations are that they continued sexually explicit communications or requested sexual material, discussed sexual activity, and, in several cases, arranged to physically meet the person they believed to be a child.” D’Agata commented.
Those arrested have not been convicted yet, and do not have current criminal cases involving minors, D’Agata explained.
Other investigative methods used to arrest the individuals included interviewing the defendants, searching their person and vehicles, searching electronic devices in their possession, issuing subpoenas and search warrants on social media accounts and other digital evidence, D’Agata told the River Reporter.
District Attorney Brian Conaty explained that the purpose of both investigations was to protect a child’s innocence, safety, and future, and intervene before an actual child becomes a victim.
“We will not wait for a child to be victimized, and we will not wait for the damage to be done,” he asserted.
Conaty also asked parents to teach their children about internet safety and monitor their use to protect them from such crimes.
“Children should be able to go online without becoming targets.” Conaty said.
D’Agata had a clear message for offenders: “Get out. You are not welcome in our community.”
