Brevard’s Pedophile Hunters Among Best In U.S.

“If I were a criminal…” said U.S. Attorney Carlos Perez, “I would not want this team investigating my case.Perez, Chief of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, addressed the group in Orlando, March 21: “I could not ask for a better team, they are truly saving children from horrific abuse.”

Brevard Sheriffs Agents comprise the bulk of the regional task force which investigates cases of child exploitation and child pornography in Florida’s Middle District.  Last year,  as part of Project Safe Childhood,  the team collared 114 suspects – the largest haul of child molesters in the nation.  The operation rescued eight children who were being abused, and arrested more than sixty suspects involved in kiddie-porn.  Two of them had prior sex offenses, and four were engaged in interstate commerce involving sex with children.

Agents Francis Dufresne, Dan Ogden, Mike Spadafora and Vince Ziccardi were named Law Enforcement Officers of the Year.  Sheriff Jack Parker said he was proud of his agents,  and said the Brevard County SORT unit is recognized as one of the nation’s premier investigative units focused on crimes against children.

In 2010, SORT Agent Dan Ogden received Protect Our Children’s “ Junny Award”,  for apprehending a local man, who was abusing teenagers he had accessed via the internet.