By Steve Neavling
Federal authorities announced Tuesday that a nationwide enforcement effort led by the FBI resulted in the arrests of 205 individuals and the rescue of 115 children targeted in cases of child sexual exploitation.
The initiative, dubbed Operation Restore Justice, was conducted over five days and involved all 55 FBI field offices, the Justice Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, and U.S. attorneys’ offices across the country. Those arrested face a range of charges, including production and distribution of child sexual abuse material, online enticement, transportation of minors, and sex trafficking.
Attorney General Pamela Bondi said the department remains committed to holding offenders accountable.
“We will not rest until we hunt down, arrest, and prosecute every child predator who preys on the most vulnerable among us,” she said, adding that she has directed prosecutors not to negotiate with defendants in these cases.
FBI Director Kash Patel said the operation demonstrates the bureau’s resolve. “Every child deserves to grow up free from fear and exploitation,” he said. “Operation Restore Justice proves that no predator is out of reach.”
Among those arrested were a state trooper in Minneapolis accused of producing child sexual abuse material while in uniform; an undocumented man in Virginia charged with transporting a minor across state lines; and a former D.C. police officer allegedly involved in trafficking minors.
Federal officials said some arrests were made possible by community education efforts and timely reporting. In one case, a California man was taken into custody within hours after a student came forward to the FBI following a school presentation on internet safety.
The effort is part of Project Safe Childhood, a longstanding initiative that coordinates federal, state, and local resources to investigate and prosecute child exploitation cases and assist victims.
The Justice Department urged anyone with information about suspected child exploitation to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or submit tips online at tips.fbi.gov.
