HART COUNTY, Ga. - The Georgia Bureau of Investigation arrested two DeKalb County residents on Friday in Hart County following a computer crimes investigation into the online trade of child sexual abuse material.
Georgia Bureau of Investigation arrests
What we know:
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation arrested 20-year-old Guiseppe Tanasie and 23-year-old Francisca Istraila, both of Stonecrest. Authorities charged both individuals with sexual exploitation of children, according to the GBI.
The agency's Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes Unit began investigating after receiving a report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. With help from the Hart County Sheriff’s Office, agents stopped the pair on Friday on Interstate 85 northbound just before the South Carolina state line as they traveled from their home to Virginia. Tanasie and Istraila were booked into the Hart County jail.
Ongoing child exploitation case
What we don't know:
Officials have not released the specific details regarding the child sexual abuse material or the identities of any victims involved. It remains unclear what specific destination the two suspects were traveling to in Virginia or if they face additional charges in other jurisdictions.
Internet crimes task force
The backstory:
This arrest is tied to a broader operation by the Georgia Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force to stop the online trade of child sexual abuse material. The U.S. Department of Justice created the program to combat online predators targeting teenagers and children as internet use increases.
Reporting online predators
What you can do:
Anyone with information about child exploitation cases can call the GBI Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes Unit at 404-270-8870. You can also file an anonymous tip by calling 1-800-597-TIPS (8477), visiting the GBI website, or submitting a report through the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at Cybertipline.org.
The Source: The information in this story was gathered from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, which explained the arrest details and the origin of the digital tracking case in an official news release.