The Department of Justice announced the results of Operation Restore Justice on Tuesday, revealing that 115 children were rescued and 205 individuals were arrested in a nationwide law enforcement operation targeting child sex predators.
The five-day operation was led by the FBI in coordination with all 55 of its field offices, the Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), and U.S. Attorney’s Offices nationwide. Authorities said the arrests covered a wide range of offenses including child sex trafficking, online enticement, and the production and distribution of child sexual abuse material.
“The Department of Justice will never stop fighting to protect victims — especially child victims — and we will not rest until we hunt down, arrest, and prosecute every child predator who preys on the most vulnerable among us,” Attorney General Pamela Bondi said in a statement. FBI Director Kash Patel added that the Bureau’s efforts would remain “relentless” in protecting children from exploitation.
Among those arrested were a state trooper and Army Reservist in Minneapolis accused of creating abuse material while in uniform, an undocumented immigrant in Norfolk charged with transporting a minor across state lines for sex, and a former Washington, D.C. police officer allegedly involved in trafficking minors.
Authorities noted that community vigilance played a significant role in the crackdown. In one case, a California man was apprehended just hours after a child disclosed their abuse to the FBI during a school presentation in upstate New York.
Key points
- Operation Restore Justice rescued 115 children and led to 205 arrests nationwide
- Offenses included child sex trafficking, production of abuse material, and online enticement
- The operation was coordinated across all 55 FBI field offices and local partners
Effort builds on national child protection campaign
The arrests come on the heels of National Child Abuse Prevention Month, which concluded last week. The Department of Justice said the timing of Operation Restore Justice underscores its continuing commitment to child protection and public awareness about online exploitation.
Many of the cases were brought under Project Safe Childhood, a DOJ initiative launched in 2006 to coordinate federal, state, and local efforts to combat child sexual exploitation. The initiative prioritizes the investigation and prosecution of crimes involving abuse facilitated through digital platforms.
Officials emphasized that while April marks heightened attention on child safety, the work of identifying and prosecuting offenders continues year-round. The FBI said its partnerships with schools, local law enforcement, and families remain critical in preventing abuse and identifying victims.
The Justice Department said that more information on Project Safe Childhood and how the public can help is available at justice.gov/psc.