Hayden O’Byrne United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida | The Florida Bar
Today, the Department of Justice revealed the outcomes of Operation Restore Justice, a concerted effort to apprehend child sex offenders. The operation led to the rescue of 115 children and the arrest of 205 individuals nationwide. This initiative was conducted over five days by all 55 FBI field offices, along with various sections within the Department's Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney’s Offices.
In Florida's Southern District, several cases are being prosecuted:
- Benjamin Tokoma Sanders from Oakland is charged with possession and production of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). His case is under investigation by FBI Miami and the Broward Sheriff’s Office.
- Tre’ Anthony Roberts from Miami faces charges related to child sexual exploitation. His case involves FBI Miami, FBI Jacksonville, and the Tallahassee Police Department.
- Katriel Victor Marmol from Davie has been charged with enticement of a minor. The investigation is being handled by FBI Miami and the Davie Police Department.
- Dariel Manresa from Pembroke Pines is charged with possession and distribution of CSAM, investigated by FBI Miami and Pembroke Pines Police Department.
- William Neal from Tampa faces charges for possession of CSAM. The case is investigated by both FBI Miami and Tampa.
- Brian Jones from Evanston, Illinois, is charged with distribution of CSAM, investigated by FBI Miami and Chicago.
Nationwide arrests include allegations ranging from production to trafficking involving minors. For instance, in Minneapolis, an Army Reservist was arrested for allegedly producing CSAM while in uniform. In Norfolk, VA, an illegal alien faces accusations related to transporting a minor across state lines for sex. A former police officer in Washington D.C. was also arrested on similar charges.
Parental vigilance has been crucial in these efforts; one example includes a California man arrested shortly after a young victim reported their abuse following an online safety presentation near Albany, N.Y.
This operation aligns with National Child Abuse Prevention Month observed in April and emphasizes ongoing efforts to protect children through Project Safe Childhood—a program initiated in May 2006 aimed at combating child sexual exploitation using federal resources to prosecute offenders effectively.
The Justice Department collaborates with organizations like the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) which operates a hotline for reporting suspected exploitation at 1-800-THE-LOST or missingkids.org.
The public is encouraged to report any suspicions through the FBI’s tipline at 1-800-CALL-FBI or tips.fbi.gov.
Legal proceedings remain ongoing as indictments are allegations until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt in court.
Further details can be accessed via the Southern District Court's website or PACER system online.
