Grace Farms Foundation Hosts Cyber Symposium with Homeland Security Investigations to Combat Major Cyber Crimes

Symposium brought together more than 200 law enforcement professionals representing over 40 different agencies across five states

Grace Farms Foundation and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) last week hosted more than 200 local, state, and federal law enforcement professionals for a Cyber Symposium designed to share information and best practices in a shared commitment to identifying criminals who use the dark web for crimes ranging from bank fraud to human trafficking. The Symposium is the latest outcome of a long-standing partnership between Grace Farms Foundation and HSI.

“This symposium is another tremendous example of our collaborative and interdisciplinary model to work with our law enforcement partners. Events like the Cyber Symposium allow us to learn from each other and build new channels of communication that will enhance investigations going forward and will surely help make our communities safer, locally and globally,” said Rod Khattabi, Chief Accountability Officer & Justice Initiative Director at Grace Farms Foundation.

Rod Khattabi, Chief Accountability Officer and Grace Farms Foundation’s Justice Initiative Director leads a conversation at the symposium. (courtesy of Homeland Security Investigations)

Topics covered during the Symposium included an examination of the typologies of cyber criminals; a discussion about how technology can be used and expanded to assist with case support; the identification of the unique challenges law enforcement faces when combating crime in the digital world; and the importance of interagency cooperation and international partnerships in this work.

“When criminals lurk in the shadows of the dark web to prey on the most vulnerable, sell dangerous drugs, and attempt to virtually steal money from our bank accounts, it takes a team effort to thwart them,” said Homeland Security Investigations New York Acting Special Agent in Charge Ricky J. Patel. “HSI is committed to forging partnerships with private sector entities like Grace Farms, and collaborate with our law enforcement partners to expose predators and cyber criminals. This Cyber Symposium was developed to create an environment to share information and discuss cutting-edge investigative techniques to ensure that law enforcement is fully equipped to identify criminals trying to hide in cyberspace from their perceived anonymity.”

Grace Farms Foundation’s commitment to justice is based on the inherent right of liberty and equality for all. The Foundation leverages law enforcement expertise, capacity building across local, national, and global justice systems, and its unique interdisciplinary approach, in order to disrupt modern slavery, gender-based violence, and environmental crimes.

In 2020 alone, the Justice Initiative formed eight new partnerships developed to increase the global footprint of capacity building programs.

“It is vital that organizations like ours work in tandem with law enforcement agencies to provide the knowledge, resources, and tools necessary to effectively investigate human trafficking and other crimes happening online,” said Khattabi.