Knox County High Tech Crime Unit

04/13/2026

The internet isn’t always a safe place for kids.

See how Vincennes Community School Corporation Police Department is fighting back—and why education at home is more important than ever.

Watch the full segment now on the Vincennes PBS YouTube Channel. Link in comments.

03/18/2026

Among those arrested included an Indianapolis-based lawyer and multiple others with histories involving child s*x crimes.

During the sting, prosecutors say police rescued an infant from s*xual abuse.

DETAILS:🔗https://tinyurl.com/mw2jjnt9

03/16/2026

SCAM ALERT

Another scam going around. Please remember that law enforcement or the courts will NEVER call you or Text you like this. All court paperwork is always delivered by sheriff service or regular mail. Never by text message. If you get a text message or a phone call demanding money, please ignore the call and mark the text message as spam.

03/13/2026

🚨 CRYPTOCURRENCY KIOSKS BANNED IN INDIANA 🚨

On March 9, 2026, House Bill 1116 was signed into law by Governor Mike Braun as an emergency measure, meaning the law went into effect immediately upon passage. The new law prohibits the operation of virtual currency kiosks (commonly called Bitcoin or cryptocurrency ATMs) anywhere in the State of Indiana.

Since the law went into effect, Grant County Sheriff’s Office deputies have visited several locations across the county and confirmed that machines have already been turned off or removed. This marks an important step forward in protecting our citizens from fraud.

Unfortunately, these machines have had a devastating impact on victims not only across the country, but right here in our community. Over the past several years, hundreds of thousands of dollars have been lost in Grant County alone through scams where criminals instructed victims to deposit money into cryptocurrency kiosks.

These scams often involve criminals impersonating law enforcement, government officials, banks, or technology companies, convincing victims they must urgently move money to a “secure account.” Once funds are deposited into a crypto kiosk, the money is nearly impossible to recover.

Indiana is now the first state in the nation to enact a full statewide ban on cryptocurrency kiosks, an important victory for fraud prevention and consumer protection.

We would like to extend our sincere appreciation to Indiana State Representative Lori Goss-Reaves and Indiana State Senator Nick McKinley for their support and leadership on this issue. Their work helped ensure stronger protections for Indiana families and communities.

Sheriff Del Garcia shared the following statement:

“For years, criminals have used cryptocurrency kiosks as a tool to steal life savings from hardworking people in our communities. We have seen firsthand the devastating impact these scams have had on victims here in Grant County. House Bill 1116 sends a clear message that Indiana will not tolerate criminals exploiting new technology to prey on our citizens. This law is a major step forward in the fight against fraud and in keeping our communities safe.”

If you believe you are being targeted by a scam, contact law enforcement immediately.

Together, we will continue working to protect the citizens of Grant County and hold criminals accountable. 🚔💪

03/05/2026

CAPTURED:

Mark Alan James Poenitski
Warrick county Probation Violation warrant for:

CRIMINAL RECKLESSNESS- Use When Committed With A Deadly Weapon.
CARRYING A HANDGUN WITHOUT A LICENSED
DISORDERLY CONDUCT- Engage In Fighting Or Tumultuous Conduct
CARRYING A HANDGUN WITHOUT A LICENSE- Def Has A Prior Felony Conviction W/In Last 15 Years.

Poenitski is out on bond from the chase from Vanderburgh County on February 23, 2026.

02/23/2026

Had a great time speaking to the Criminal Justice and Computer Science students today today. Thanks for the opportunity to share what we do and talk about law enforcement careers with digital forensics.

02/12/2026

02/10/2026

Demo time! Got to show my skills for the class today 🥰🦮📱