How I Tracked and Brought a Predator to Justice: A 4-Year Investigation

Ludoc

The Initial Encounter and Suspicion [00:00:00]

• Personal experience with online predator:
  • Ludoc, a content creator, was contacted on Skype by a pedophile in June 2014, who mistook him for a minor. [00:00:00]
  • He meticulously saved all chat history and screenshots, documenting the interaction.
• Uncovering the predator's methods and platform:
  • The perpetrator, "Pascal," quickly became direct, asking personal questions.
  • Ludoc investigated "Coco.fr," a chat site mentioned by Pascal, discovering it was an unmoderated platform known for illegal activities including drug sales, prostitution, and pedocriminal content.
  • Coco.fr, despite being hosted in Guernsey to avoid French jurisdiction, was implicated in over 23,000 legal proceedings between 2021-2024 and was eventually shut down.
  • The site had minimal age verification, allowing easy access for predators, and Ludoc’s cartoon avatar made it difficult to discern his adult age.
  • Predators on such sites employ a strategy of building trust, isolating the victim from parents, and then confronting them with inappropriate requests.
    • Step 1: Trust Building: They present themselves as harmless individuals, understanding and offering advice, particularly to young people exploring their sexuality.
    • Step 2: Isolation: They encourage the child to share secrets, alienating them from their parents who might otherwise intervene.
    • Step 3: Confrontation: This can range from exchanging explicit photos to arranging physical meetings for sexual acts.
• Legal implications of online interactions:
  • An adult chatting with a minor is not an offense until an "act" occurs, which can include a webcam proposal.
  • Sending explicit images ("Dick Pics") is punishable by law:
    • 1 year imprisonment and €15,000 fine (if minor is 15+).
    • Doubled penalty if the minor is under 15 (2 years and €30,000).
    • Repeated offenses constitute sexual assault: 2 years and €30,000, escalating to 3 years and €45,000 if the minor is under 15.
    • Inciting a minor to commit acts is child corruption, punishable by 10 years and €150,000.
  • Consent from a minor under 15 for sexual relations is legally considered rape, punishable by 20 years, as children lack the maturity and discernment to consent.

    

The Tracking and Gathering Evidence [00:10:20]

• Decision to involve authorities:
  • Ludoc consulted friends, deciding against public shaming (doxing) to avoid procedural errors that could invalidate evidence.
  • Publicly broadcasting private discussions is illegal and can lead to charges of invasion of privacy and violation of correspondence secrecy.
  • The proper approach is to report to a trusted adult or the police, not to self-confront or provoke.
  • Ludoc aimed to gather as much information as possible before reporting to the juvenile brigade upon his return to Paris.
• OSINT Techniques used by Ludoc:
  • Reverse Image Search: Attempted to find other accounts linked to Pascal's Skype profile picture, but found no matches.
  • Profile Information: Pascal openly shared his first name, last name, and date of birth on Skype, indicating a lack of concern about being identified.
  • Social Media Search: Searched Facebook for Pascal's name, but found no direct results, speculating it might be a family member.
  • Analyzing Background Details from Webcam:
    • During a webcam call, Pascal appeared in his garden, which, given the time of day in France, suggested an east-facing garden.
    • The background included a wooden fence, a tree, and a parasol.
  • White Pages Search: Used Pascal's first name and the broad location (southern suburbs of Lens) provided during a less vigilant moment (during an explicit webcam call) to narrow down potential addresses.
  • Google Street View and Maps: Systematically checked addresses from the White Pages against Street View images, focusing on houses matching the garden description and sun direction.
  • Phone Call Triangulation: During another webcam call where Pascal's microphone was accidentally on and background noise suggested a woman speaking, Ludoc and his friends called landline numbers associated with the remaining potential addresses. When a call made one of the phones ring in Pascal's background, they confirmed his address and phone number.

    

Reporting and Launching the Official Investigation [00:21:24]

• Filing the report:
  • Ludoc reported to the juvenile brigade in Paris, providing Skype chat logs, screenshots, and videos.
  • He explained how predators use platforms like Coco.fr and the ease with which minors can be targeted.
• Police investigation methods (Investigation under pseudonym):
  • The police initiated a judicial investigation, with an investigator creating a fake minor profile (a "legend") to engage the predator.
  • The investigator adopts a nickname, age, and a non-real profile picture (e.g., from video games or manga) to protect their identity.
  • The goal is to build trust and elicit incriminating information without provoking the predator, as provocation can invalidate evidence.
  • Investigators must be constantly available to maintain contact with the predator, responding promptly to avoid suspicion, while also maintaining their "legend" (e.g., being at school during the day).
• Justification for a new investigation:
  • Ludoc's initial evidence, although crucial, contained "procedural aims" (potential loopholes like unintentional provocation) that could be exploited by defense lawyers.
  • A police-led investigation ensures all evidence is legally sound, minimizing risks of dismissal.
• Locating the predator's exact address:
  • Police obtain the predator's IP address from Skype via a judicial requisition.
  • They then issue another judicial requisition to the internet service provider to link the IP address to a physical address, name, and phone number.
• Field Investigation (Neighbor Inquiry):
  • Officers conduct surveillance and interviews with neighbors to confirm the identity of the computer user, gather information about the suspect's habits, and ensure safety during arrest.
  • This step ensures the correct individual is targeted, as multiple people might use the same IP address.

    

Other Victims and Predator Networks [00:30:40]

• Discovery of additional victims:
  • During the police investigation, two other victims came forward in December 2014 and October 2016, respectively.
  • Both were teenagers (ages 17 and another unspecified minor) who had received sexual propositions from the same "Pascal" via social networks.
  • This led to a "joinder of proceedings," combining the investigations into a single case due to the shared perpetrator and modus operandi.
• Understanding predator communities and methods:
  • The video emphasizes that predators are often part of online communities, where they share techniques for approaching minors, tutorials on evading capture, and even "games" involving sharing explicit images.
  • These communities normalize their behavior and offer mutual support and advice, making them more dangerous.
  • Some "predator manuals" found on the Darknet, sometimes over 1000 pages long, contain detailed instructions on chemical submission, how to avoid leaving traces, and defense strategies in court.
  • The police conduct extended investigations to uncover these networks, aiming for "simultaneous arrests" of multiple perpetrators to dismantle entire rings.

    

Protection and Prevention [00:36:18]

• Immediate steps for potential victims:
  • Talk to a trusted adult: Parents, older siblings, or other trusted individuals. Emphasize that there is no shame and the victim has done nothing wrong.
  • Contact the police: Minors can now file a complaint without adult accompaniment and are automatically assigned a lawyer.
  • Avoid public shaming: Do not share screenshots or private messages publicly as this is illegal and can complicate legal proceedings.
• Online safety tips:
  • Privacy settings: Keep social media accounts private, restricting access to close friends only.
  • No intimate photos: Never share intimate photos with strangers, as this can lead to blackmail.
  • Be wary of requests for photos of others: Predators may ask for pictures of siblings or friends.
• Resources for help:
  • E-Enfance [3018]: A unique helpline for young victims of harassment and digital violence. Offers anonymous support and a "digital safe" service to securely store evidence.
  • Pharos (Internet-Signalement.gouv.fr): For anonymously reporting illicit, shocking, or pedocriminal content. Only the site address and screenshots are needed.
  • Point de Contact: For reporting shocking profiles and blocking malicious users.
• Importance of education and communication:
  • Parents must talk to their children about online risks, explaining that predators exist and can target anyone.
  • Confiscating phones is counterproductive; open dialogue and trust are more effective.
  • Encourage children to confide if they have made mistakes (e.g., sending nudes), assuring them of support.

    

The Trial and Verdict [00:39:01]

• Conclusion of the investigation and arrest:
  • The investigation, spanning over 3 years, concluded that the predator operated alone.
  • His arrest was planned for 6 AM (the legal time for home intervention) based on neighborhood surveillance.
  • Police seized his computers, phones, hard drives, and USB keys.
• Police custody and forensic expertise:
  • The predator was held for up to 48 hours.
  • A judicial computer expert was appointed to analyze all seized devices for new evidence.
  • Experts meticulously examine all digital data (images, videos, browsing history, chat logs) to identify crimes, victims, and potential connections to networks.
  • The data is cross-referenced with Interpol databases for victim identification.
  • A significant portion (estimated half in France) of pedocriminal content originates from parents' public social media posts of their children.
  • Forensic work is psychologically challenging due to the graphic nature of the content.
• Lack of a typical predator profile:
  • There is no single "robot portrait" of a pedophile; they come from all ages (21-68 in one case mentioned) and social categories.
  • The only consistent factor is gender, with over 97% of perpetrators being men.
  • A distinction is made between "pedophile" (someone with sexual attraction to children without acting on it) and "pedocriminal" (someone who acts on these urges).
• Trial and sentencing:
  • The trial was set for April 10, 2018, in Arras.
  • The victims' legal representatives did not attend, and the predator himself did not appear.
  • Only one of the two additional victims became a civil party (through her father), seeking compensation.
  • The predator was found guilty of making sexual propositions to a minor under 15 (Ludoc's case) and corruption of minors (the other two victims).
  • Verdict: Not prison, but 3 years of "socio-judicial monitoring," including mandatory therapy and regular police check-ins, with a 1-year prison sentence if conditions are violated.
  • Rationale for the sentence: Focus on rehabilitation and preventing recidivism rather than solely punishment, as prison might exacerbate urges without proper treatment.
  • Additional penalties: Confiscation of seized computer equipment and registration in the national automated judicial file of sexual offenders (FIGET).
  • Compensation: Ordered to pay €500 to the civil party victim for moral damages, which was considered very low due to lack of legal representation.

    

Call to Action [00:54:06]

• Importance of education and dialogue:
  • The video aims to raise awareness about the pervasive nature of online predation.
  • Encourage open and honest conversations with children about online dangers, avoiding denial or prohibition.
  • Teach children that confiding in adults about online encounters, even if they've made mistakes, is safe and crucial.
• Sharing information:
  • Share the documentary's lessons to educate others.
  • Stress the importance of privacy settings and reporting illicit content to appropriate authorities and helplines.
• Final warning:
  • Do not attempt to find the predator's identity, as it is futile and potentially illegal; justice has already acted, and personal details in the video were intentionally altered.