March 3, 2008
Purdue detective helps convict man for online activities
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - A Purdue University police officer was instrumental in the conviction of a man using an Internet chat room to sexually solicit what he thought was a 13-year-old girl.Mark Ciesiolka, 34, of Ohio, was convicted Thursday (Feb. 28) in a Hammond, Ind. federal court for online enticement of children.
Detective Sgt. Carrie Costello of the Purdue Police Department posed as a 13-year-old girl in Internet chats with Ciesiolka. The online conversations occurred from Aug. 2-19, 2006.
"I would guess we chatted maybe 15 times," Costello said. "If it wasn't every day, it was pretty close. He was the one who most often initiated the contact."
Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip Benson praised Costello's work, along with that of secret service agent Christian Ebel-Orr, who conducted the forensic analysis of Ciesiolka's 10 computers.
Costello was part of an operation that nabbed 24 suspects for child exploitation and/or child solicitation activities. Thus far, 23 of them have been convicted, and one has yet to stand trial, Costello said. Costello was part of a joint effort between the U.S. Attorney's Office and the U.S. Secret Service.
"We were trained as undercover officers who posed as 13- and 14-year-old children, and we paired up with an agent," she said. "It's part of the Childhood Safe Project.”
Writer: Jim Bush, (765) 494-2077, jsbush@purdue.edu
Source: Carrie Costello (765) 494-8221, ckcostello@purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
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