FBI indicts sexual predator

New York man indicted for using the Internet to engage area minors in phone sex, according to U.S. District Attorney’s office.

Kevin Howell
Reporter

Steven Van Zile, Jr., 23, of Elmira, New York was indicted Wednesday for using the Internet to engage minors in phone sex, according to information released yesterday afternoon by the U.S. District Attorney during a press conference held in Monticello.
The indictment, which involved minor victims from White and several surrounding counties, was returned by a Federal Grand Jury after an investigation beginning last October. The investigation was initiated when Reynolds Town Marshal Ben Woodhouse received calls from a parent concerning harassment of their daughter.
Eventually, the case went up the line to the White County Sheriff’s Department, the Indiana State Police and finally the Federal Bureau of Investigation. During the course of the investigation law enforcement officers from those agencies as well as from Pulaski County, Monticello and Carroll County became involved.
Three counts have been filed involving children under the age of 18 from the Francesville, Delphi and Monticello areas who were allegedly victimized by Zile.
In making the announcement, District Attorney Joseph Van Bokkelen said although the Internet is a valuable tool, there is a “dark underbelly” that involves criminal activity.
“The Federal Grand Jury in Hammond, Indiana returned a three count indictment charging Steven Van Zile Jr. with a violation of 18 U.S.C. 2422(b) making it illegal to knowingly use a facility of interstate commerce, in this case the telephone, to persuade, induce, entice and coerce, or attempt to do so, individuals who had not attained the age of 18 years, to engage in sexual activity for which any person can be charged with a criminal offense,” explained Van Bokkelen.
Van Zile allegedly contacted minors through Internet conversations in a Yahoo chat room. He was able then to take user names and passwords using ‘Spyware’ type software, and threatened to lock his victims out of an instant messaging service unless they agreed to engage in phone sex with him.
The victims were coerced into giving out their phone numbers after which Van Zile allegedly made contact.
He was arrested in Elmira May 19, and through computer forensics, agents were able to determine from Van Zile’s computer how he was able to acquire the names and passwords.
He is currently in transit from Rochester, New York to the Northern Indiana District, and will be arraigned in Federal Court in Hammond.
Although there is an indication the activity was much more widespread, and involved a larger number of minor victims, the three counts are enough to bring Van Zile before a judge while investigations continue.
Van Bokkelen noted that the case points out the danger of unmonitored use of chat rooms.
“If a complete stranger came to your front door and said they wanted to engage in sexual acts with your minor daughter, you would throw them out of the house and call the police,” Van Bokkelen said.
“Through the Internet, complete strangers are coming into your home daily without asking your permission. My message to parents is to monitor your child’s Internet use, learn how they are using it and especially the chat rooms they visit – and be prepared to say no.”
Several parents of minor victims attended the press conference, which was held in White County out of respect for the victim families.
One mother and father from the Reynolds area, who remain anonymous to protect the identity of their minor daughter, said they knew she had been thrown out of the chat room, but had no idea of the circumstances.
“She just said, ‘don’t worry, it will be okay,’” said the mother.
“But around November or December we got a call from the FBI.”
They didn’t take it on faith that it was indeed the FBI and contacted the White County Sheriff to verify the identity before giving any information. Once that was clarified, they cooperated fully and learned more about what was happening.
“It’s very scary for parents (of young children); there are a lot of crazy people out there,” they said.
Fortunately, the situation is being resolved, and the parents say their daughter is doing OK now.
“She’s got a good head on her shoulders; she’s doing all right.”

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Possible Sexual Predator | State returns sexual predator to state hospital | Convicted Sexual Predator Facing More Charges | Sexual predator accused of raping 5-year-old girl | Jail sentence increased for 'calculating sexual predator' | Sexual predator sought by police | Authorities move to commit St. Cloud man as sexual predator | Boswell announces sexual predator funding | Jackson painted as a sexual predator | Sexual predator speaks out about protests in front of his home | Convicted Sexual Predator Obtains Juror's Names | City resident designated as sexual predator | FBI indicts sexual predator | Judge orders sexual predator to be removed from group home | Sexual predator enters release program | Neighbors worried about man once labeled a sexual predator | Protesters of sexual predator picket outside his church | Five more years for 'sexual predator' | 'Sexual Predator' Jailed for Raping Teenager | Alleged Online Sexual Predator Arrested | Sexual Predator Among Fugitives Wanted By Police | San Jose Police Say Sexual Predator May Have 36,000 Victims | Mexican Sexual Predator Caught In Florida To Be Deported