Child porn sting bankrolled by private foundation

When 800 of Utah's more well-to-do and famous gathered for a fancy gala to raise money for child safety, they had no idea they were bankrolling a law enforcement operation to nab Internet predators and seize child pornography.

A sizeable donation from a local charity ended up funding, at least in part, the Utah attorney general's Internet Crimes Against Children task force's latest sting operation.

"We're proud to do it," said Rick Larsen, the president of Operation Kids. "If people saw what they did, they'd reach in their pockets before they let budget cuts stop their work."

"Operation March Madness" wrapped up this week with 14 arrests, seven search warrants, 37 computers being seized and 26 investigations being launched into the trafficking of child pornography and the solicitation of children over the Internet for sex. Agents on the multi-agency task force joked that their operation involved "bracelets, not brackets" as they handcuffed a number of suspected Internet sex predators.

ICAC is among many state divisions grappling with budget cuts enacted by the Utah State Legislature.

"We've seen deep and painful cuts to our state budgets this year, and for next year's budget as well," said Ken Wallentine, the attorney general's chief of law enforcement. "But the child sexual predators and child pornography traffickers are still as active as ever."

At last October's gala, Operation Kids gave the ICAC task force a $50,000 check with another $200,000 in pledges from the gala's attendees. Initially, it was thought the money would be used to buy ICAC agents new equipment like computers.

"We intentionally gave this money to them in an unrestricted fashion," Larsen said. "It doesn't surprise me they would use that to do what they did."

ICAC commander Rhett McQuiston said the money ended up funding overtime, extra shifts and other resources to carry out "Operation March Madness."

"We were able to get to these individuals sooner than later because of the extra funds," he said Friday.

Among those arrested: A man accused of burying a cache of child pornography in Uintah County; a man arrested in Portland whom ICAC agents said admitted to downloading child pornography and is accused of sexually abusing a 5-year-old girl in Blanding; and another man accused of manufacturing child pornography.

"We'll see an additional 18 arrests and criminal charges being filed on cases we worked during 'March Madness,' " McQuiston said.