Justin Berry speaks from personal experience to parent groups, law enforcement officials and child advocates about the dangers posed to minors by Internet sexual predators. 

At 13, Justin was lured by pedophiles into sexual performances in front of a home webcam; beginning at that age and for the next five years, Justin operated for-pay pornographic websites featuring his own images. In 2005, debilitated by drug use and exploitation by men who frequented his site, Justin finally turned away from this secret life, and has since dedicated himself to combating the scourge of child pornography. 

To help other children he knew to be in danger, Justin became a state and federal witness, revealing the inner workings of the Internet child porn world to the Justice Department, FBI, state Attorneys General, and other law enforcement bodies. In April, 2006, he testified before the United States Congress about his experiences, leading to an effort by legislators to toughen laws against child pornography. 

His story was featured in a front-page article in the New York Times in December, 2005, as well as on Oprah Winfrey, the Today show, Good Morning America and numerous other programs.

Justin is now 22 years old. He received the Courage in the Media Award from the International Violence, Abuse and Trauma Conference in S. I spoke in Albany New York at the 2nd Annual Cyber Security Awareness Conference October 4th. I am currently involved in several cases and finished one of the cases a few months ago that put one of my molesters in prison for 150 years.  

PROGRAM INFORMATION:

Justin Berry was just the kid next door – class president, honor roll student, member of the school band. And – unknown to almost anyone in his life – a star from the ages of 13 to 18 in the sordid world of Internet child pornography. In this workshop, Justin –  who attracted national attention with his testimony before Congress about his experiences – will discuss how any kid could be led down a path of self-destruction. He will lay out the challenges facing today's adults – and the threats confronted by children – as well as the means to combat these problems from the unique perspective of a teenager who fell prey to exploitation. The information is difficult – even embarrassing – to discuss, but in doing so, Justin hopes to give parents and educators a set of tools to help prevent other children from experiencing the life that almost destroyed him.