Home | About Us | Services | Links | Contact

On July 13th, the Sacramento Valley Hi-Tech Crimes Task Force (SVHTCTF) received a major donation from Microsoft Corp. to distribute between California's five High Technology Crimes Task Forces to support their continued work investigating and prosecuting technology related crimes.

As California State Senator Elaine Alquist (R) looks on, Aaron Kornblum (L), Internet Safety Enforcement Attorney from Microsoft Corporation, hands Sacramento County Sheriff Lou Blanas a check for $250,000 in Sacramento, California, July 13, 2005. The check is a donation from Microsoft to the Sacramento Valley Hi-Tech Crimes Task Force to be used specifically for the investigation and prosecution of high technology crimes by task forces in Napa, Los Angeles, San Jose, San Diego and Sacramento. Senator Alquist is Chair of the Senate Committee on Public Safety. REUTERS/Lou Dematteis

Highlights

*Photo of Aaron Kornblum, Sheriff Lou Blanas and Senator Elaine Alquist filed to the wires.

*KCRA (NBC), KXTV (News 10), KOVR (CBS), KXTL (Fox), KUVS (Univision) and KFBK Radio attended the press event and shot footage of all speakers and the handing over of the check.

*Interviews by Aaron Kornblum with KCBS San Francisco, KFBK Sacramento and KXTV Sacramento

KCBS San Francisco Interview

Microsoft's Internet Safety Enforcement Attorney Aaron Kornblum spoke with Ted Goldberg of KCBS-AM Radio in San Francisco about the donation. The interview aired and was put into rotation on Thursday morning, running at least five times throughout the morning. In the interview, the following key messages were conveyed:

*Microsoft donated $250,000 to the Sacramento Valley Hi-Tech Crimes Task Force to be distributed among the five task forces across the state- Sacramento, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose and Napa.

*The money will be used to help the task forces pursue, investigate, and prosecute cyber related crimes.

*Since its inception, the task force has been very successful in investigating technology related crimes against the people of California and today the force retains a highly skilled, trained, and mobile investigative force.

*Microsoft is determined to stop cyber-related crime through many possible ways such as technology, consumer education, and supporting cyber criminal programs such as that in Sacramento.

*Consumers are becoming more aware of cyber crime. However, it is still very important to spread the word to consumers and empower them by demonstrating how to avoid falling prey to these types of crimes.

*The public/private relationship facilitated by this donation is an example of how important it is to share resources and expertise among these creative relationships. By pooling these resources, the efforts to stop cyber criminals are much more effective.

*Microsoft maintains an ongoing commitment to law enforcement to help investigate and pursue cyber criminals.

Home | About Us | Services | Links | Contact