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Internet Luring Investigation Seeks Potential Victims |
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Written by Wire
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Wednesday, 02 August 2006 |
 Between June 21, 2006, and July 21, 2006, a suspect from Acworth, Georgia in the United States initiated an online, internet based chat with an undercover Peel, Ontario Regional Police Officer who was acting in the capacity of a 13 year-old girl. The suspect communicated to the officer, whom he believed to be a 13 year-old girl, his intentions to travel to Brampton, Ontario for the purpose of engaging in sexual acts with her. The suspect also utilized a web cam to transmit sexual acts to the officer.
Peel Regional Police notified the United States Department of Homeland Security's Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Cherokee County Sheriff's Department who arrested the suspect and have charged him with Sexual Exploitation of a Child, Obscene Internet Contact with a Child, and Electronically Furnishing Obscene Material to a Minor.
Philip E. Jenkins Sr., 63 years of-age, will be facing these charges in the U.S. The investigation is ongoing and to date, US Authorities have identified over 2000 contacts, some believed to be international, with whom Jenkins has conversed. They strongly suspect numerous profiles thus far to be children, and their identities are being sought.
Peel Regional Police are asking parents to check with their children to ascertain if they have spoken on line in any Yahoo, MSN, or Chat room to "Sweetman32us" or prior to 2004, "Metronit56".
Anyone with information into this suspect is asked to contact the Peel Regional Police Child Exploitation Unit at (905) 453-3311 Ext 3490, or Peel Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS/8477.
Peel Regional Police investigators are encouraging parents and guardians to educate themselves, on the use of the Internet, chat rooms, MSN and the use of various communication software available. Children should also have their chats and time on the computer monitored. Investigators have seen an extreme increase in this type of communication with minors, and their vulnerability in confiding in online paedophiles. Most importantly the computer should be kept in an open area within the home to encourage continuous supervision.
Parents and guardians are encouraged if they see something inappropriate, to contact their local police department and report the incident also to www.cybertip.ca .
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