A child predator from the Bay Area, who was among U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) most wanted fugitives, was captured Tuesday by the Fairbanks International Airport Police after eluding arrest for four years.
Kevin Trask, 40, of San Francisco, was initially pulled over by Fairbanks officers due to faulty equipment on his vehicle. He initially provided the police with a false identity.
However, after subsequent investigation revealed the existence of the outstanding felony warrant, Trask admitted his real name and that he was wanted by HSI on child pornography charges.
Trask is currently in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service and preparations are underway to return him to northern California where he is currently under indictment.
San Francisco HSI special agents began investigating Trask in March 2012 after he allegedly downloaded a video of child pornography though a peer-to-peer (P2P) network using an internet protocol (IP) address that traced back to his San Francisco residence.
On May 1, 2012, HSI executed a federal search warrant at Trask’s residence. Within a week of the search, Trask quit his job and relocated to San Diego, advising HSI he was staying with family who resided there.
Trask was indicted in the Northern District of California in November 2012 for possession and distribution of child pornography. The investigation revealed that Trask was involved in the sharing of over 700 images and 10 videos of child exploitation some of which involved sadomasochism and sex acts with toddlers.
On Nov. 30, 2012, HSI special agents in San Diego attempted to locate him at two separate addresses without success. In January 2013, the U.S. Marshals made a second attempt to find Trask in San Diego, but that search was also fruitless.
In September 2013, Trask was among the first cases featured on ICE’s smartphone app to locate child predators.
Additional fugitives wanted by HSI as suspected child predators can be seen at the online suspect alerts page.
The charges in this case are only allegations and all defendants must be presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
“This arrest wouldn’t have come had it not been for the stellar efforts of the Fairbanks Airport Police Department,” said Ryan L. Spradlin, special agent in charge for HSI San Francisco. “Their instincts and diligence led to the arrest of an HSI most wanted fugitive and could very well have saved potential young victims from future harm.”
This investigation was conducted under HSI’s Operation Predator, an international initiative to protect children from sexual predators.
Since the launch of Operation Predator in 2003, HSI has arrested more than 14,000 individuals for crimes against children, including the production and distribution of online child pornography, traveling overseas for sex with minors, and sex trafficking of children.
In fiscal year 2015, nearly 2,400 individuals were arrested by HSI special agents under this initiative and more than 1,000 victims identified or rescued.
HSI encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free Tip Line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE or by completing its online tip form.
Both are staffed around the clock by investigators. From outside the U.S. and Canada, callers should dial 802-872-6199. Hearing impaired users can call TTY 802-872-6196.
Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, an Operation Predator partner, via its toll-free 24-hour hotline, 1-800-THE-LOST.
For additional information about wanted suspected child predators, download HSI’s Operation Predator smartphone app or visit the online suspect alerts page.
