SALT LAKE CITY -- An image of a towering columnof smut was relayed during a news conference Thursday afternoon inorder to give perspective to the scope and breadth of OperationFrosty Lime Squeeze. The operation was a coordinated effort duringMarch between the state's Internet Crimes Against Children taskforce and 37 federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.
In Utah County alone, authorities arrested 11 suspectedperpetrators, more than any other county in the state. Utah CountySheriff's Lt. Mike Brower did not know why Utah County had morearrests, but said local investigators worked extra hard during theoperation.
"In Utah County we were just able to put some extra focus onproactive work," Brower said. "We had several investigators whowere very passionate about the work and about stopping theseindividuals."
During the conference, Attorney General Mark Shurtleff revealedthat the operation -- which is named for it's effort to "squeeze"those accessing child pornography on the FrostWire and LimeWirepeer-to-peer networks -- netted 39 arrests. Officials also served52 home search warrants and 39 computer search warrants, and seized124 computers, 118 external hard drives, 31 cell phones, five Xboxgame consoles and more than 1,000 CDs and DVDs.
More sobering still, Shurtleff said that if a person spent eighthours a day downloading and viewing the confiscated childpornography it would occupy 55 years of that person's life.
ICAC field commander Lt. Jessica Farnsworth said the individualsarrested as part of the operation come from all walks of society.She described them as doctors, teachers, construction workers andfathers, among other things. But most of all, she stressed, many ofthose arrested held positions of trust and had contact withchildren.
"No one suspected these perpetrators lived these secret duallives," Farnsworth said.
Shurtleff characterized the consumption of child pornography asan addiction 
"Pedophiles spend way too little time behind bars," he said.
Among those arrested, materials released after the newsconference highlighted two Utah County suspects. The first,37-year-old Jeremy Hanks, is described as a convicted serial rapistwho was released from prison in November. Investigators reportedlyfound child pornography on an array of electronic devices atHanks's Pleasant Grove home, and he now faces federal charges.
Brendon Morrey, 26, also was singled out in the news release forboth downloading and manufacturing child pornography. He issuspected of sexually abusing at least one child.
Other Utah County suspects arrested during the operation includeAdam Kuntz, 33; Coltin MacKey, 21; Victor Karcich, 33; MatthewHall, 26; and Ephraim Smith, 30. One juvenile also was arrested,and Brower said other investigations are ongoing.
Authorities Thursday did not reveal details about investigativetechniques, but Farnsworth said that the investigation focused onfinding suspects who were interacting with each other online.
"It is kind of a ripple effect," she explained. "Sex offenderstend to hang out with other sex offenders. So with the developmentof the Internet it has created the opportunity for people to talkto each other in groups."
Farnsworth said that the operation was about seeking outpredators before they committed further crimes. Those who viewchild pornography often eventually try to act out their fantasies,she said, leading them to molest children.
Brower said that he hopes the operation sends a message to thoseinvolved with child pornography that they will be discovered.
"I would hope that those who download and share and manufacturechild pornography understand that they are being monitored and thatwe will come after them," Brower said.
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