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TALLAHASSEE, FL – Attorney General Bill McCollum today joined Governor Charlie Crist, Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) Commissioner Gerald Bailey, and John Walsh, host of America’s Most Wanted, to announce the results of a 10-week statewide cybercrime operation. The operation, dubbed “Operation Orange Tree” was a cooperative effort by 23 local, state and federal law enforcement agencies working together to target some of the state’s worst cybercrime offenders. The Attorney General’s CyberCrime Unit was among the operation’s leading participants.

“Florida has a significant cybercrime problem, but every time we work together with our local, state and federal partners, we magnify our resources,” said Attorney General McCollum. “I would love to see more state partnerships like this operation develop so our children are better protected from this horrific crime.”

“Nothing is more important than keeping Florida’s children safe from cybercrime predators, and I applaud all of the law enforcement officers involved in Operation Orange Tree,” Governor Crist said. “As a state, we must remain diligent in continuing the battle to stop sex offenders before they can prey on our children.”

During the operation, 77 men were arrested, including four registered sex offenders; charges range from possession and distribution of child pornography to sexual battery. Seventeen of the individuals arrested possessed a highly explicit video tutorial which instructs users on methods to molest children ranging in age from infant to adolescent, and tips for avoiding detection. Five victims were rescued, including one teenager who disclosed to investigators that she had been abused on a regular basis for the past 10 years.

“Although the internet is the information super highway and an incredible tool, it is also the private hunting ground for the lowest of the low – child sexual predators. 'Operation Orange Tree' sets the bar for law enforcement cooperation with Attorney General Bill McCollum’s cybercrime unit. As a Floridian I’m proud of the work of all the agencies involved -- it sets a great example for the other 49 states,” said John Walsh. “The unit, first started by Governor Charlie Crist when he was Attorney General, was one of the first in the nation and probably the most proactive. Attorney General McCollum has greatly expanded the unit and used new technology to hunt the exploiters of our children.”

“Florida is enhancing and fine-tuning the way we go about investigating these cyber predators,” Commissioner Bailey said. “This should send a loud and clear message that our tactics and technologies will be aggressive and will always catch up with those who trade images of children being sexually violated.”

The CyberCrime Unit was established in 2005 as a six-person unit based in Jacksonville. Since 2007, the unit has grown to 30 members and has five offices throughout the state, including a task force structure in Tampa with a total of 12 partnering agencies. The unit is a member of the North, Central and South Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Forces as well as a member of the FBI’s Innocent Images Task Force. The unit is directly responsible for over 140 arrests since its inception, including 17 individuals who traveled to meet someone they thought was a child, intending to have a sexual encounter with that child.

A list of those arrested and preliminary charges are available online at: http://myfloridalegal.com/webfiles.nsf/WF/MRAY-7SUKZS/$file/OrangeTreeDefendants.pdf