The US Marine who lost both his legs in Afghanistan now catches pedophiles from his computer through his ‘geek’ team of digital forensics experts.
Justin Gartner, a native of Pasco County, Florida, joined the US Marine Corps straight out of high school and was deployed to Afghanistan. In 2010, he was seriously injured by an improvised explosive device, losing both his legs. But this did not stop him from fighting on the front lines. He is now a computer forensics analyst with Homeland Security Investigations and tracks technical evidence, social media histories, of convicts in child abuse cases. Sitting in front of a computer screen, Gartner examines hard drives, phones and other digital devices, searching for evidence linked to cases involving child abuse, human trafficking and other crimes.“We’ve arrested a police officer. We’ve arrested firefighters. We’ve arrested mayors. We’ve arrested people who are trusted by the public,” he said. “For example, I was literally on the scene, I got photos and video, while the kids were right there in the living room,” Gartner said.
geek squad
Gartner calls his team the Geek Squad. “We’ve arrested a police officer. We’ve arrested firefighters. We’ve arrested mayors. We’ve arrested people who are trusted by the public,” he said. Recently, they settled a case against an Oldsmar man who was accused of abusing dozens of children, including his own. “For example, I was literally on the scene, I got photos and video, while the kids were right there in the living room,” Gartner said.“I say the Marines made me a man,” he said. “But really, this – working for Homeland Security Investigations – is where I was supposed to be.”
mentally tougher
Gartner said his current role is more mentally demanding and more demanding because all his days are spent reviewing disturbing material. “It’s mentally tougher and more bearable,” Gartner said. “That’s why they included war-wounded veterans, because we have a certain mentality.”Gartner said that in this digital age, nothing is ever truly deleted. “And if so, we will eventually find it.”