Internet child predators targeted in multi-agency operation

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Story Published: Aug 28, 2008 at 8:11 PM EST

Story Updated: Aug 29, 2008 at 1:40 AM EST

Dozens have been arrested following a month-long, multi-agency operation that brought together state, federal and local law enforcement agencies to target known sex offenders preying on children via the Internet.

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Those involved in the investigation said simply locking your doors and keeping your children in the house is no longer enough to keep them safe from child predators.

“Today child molesters, sex predators and those who seek to exploit our children are coming in electronically into our home via the Internet,” said U.S. Attorney McGregor Scott during a news conference.

Operation Valley Predator II took place from July 27, 2008 through August 22, 2008.

Throughout the course of the investigation law enforcement served at least 19 state and federal search warrants and arrested 61 people on a variety of offenses, ranging from child pornography crimes to failing to comply with state-mandated sex offender registration statutes.

At this point, 15 federal indictments have been filed against 16 individuals. Scott said two people were included in one indictment.

Fresno County District Attorney Elizabeth Egan said her office is committed to getting accused criminals through the system as quickly as possible. During a time of county budget constraints, Eagan said partnering with federal agencies helps to ensure that happens.

“The ability to marshal these kind of resources that the federal government has and us being able to work with them on it is really such a benefit to this area, the cases come in and we go after them, you know we gotta put these guys away.”

Scott pointed out that in many of the cases the people arrested have prior convictions for child related sex crimes. He said there is an absolute connection between those who molest children and those who possess or distribute child pornography.

“Our theory is that if we can take someone who is creating, distributing child pornography and put them in a federal penitentiary, then x number of children won't be molested,” Scott said.

One of the people charged during the operation was Dimitrios Kastis, 53, a former Clovis soccer coach.

In July 2007, Kastis, originally from New York, was arrested on three counts of molestation of a child under fourteen. During the course of that investigation detectives seized his computer and performed a forensic review which allegedly revealed images of child pornography.

Investigators said they believe Kastis gave private soccer lessons and may have been affiliated with a Clovis high school for several months.

Kastis has been ordered to stand trial on all charges and is awaiting his next court date in custody at the Fresno County Jail.

Scott warns that any child predators should think long and hard before trying to get to would be victims, “You gotta go through us to get there. Were not gonna back away from that commitment, were gonna stay strong and continue this effort.”

Investigators are still reviewing evidence and said there could be more arrests connected to this operation in the coming weeks.

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