The Department of Justice has announced the results of Operation Restore Justice, a nationwide effort aimed at identifying and arresting child sex predators. The operation led to the rescue of 115 children and the arrest of 205 offenders over five days. This initiative involved all 55 FBI field offices, the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section in the Department's Criminal Division, and U.S. Attorney’s Offices across the country.
Attorney General Pamela Bondi emphasized the department's commitment to protecting victims: "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." She also expressed gratitude for the efforts made by law enforcement partners during this operation.
FBI Director Kash Patel stated that "every child deserves to grow up free from fear and exploitation," highlighting that Operation Restore Justice demonstrates no predator is beyond reach. He added that through collaboration with federal, state, and local partners, a clear message is sent: "there is no place to hide for those who prey on children."
In Davenport, Iowa, a federal grand jury indicted Anthony Charles VanMeter on charges related to child pornography. VanMeter was previously serving an eight-year supervised release term for a similar conviction in 2016. The indictment serves as an allegation until proven guilty in court.
Eugene Kowel, Special Agent in Charge at FBI Omaha Field Office, praised their task force's role in apprehending criminals during Operation Restore Justice: "Locking them up is one of the most important actions...to protect children."
Arrests were made nationwide for crimes including production and distribution of child sexual abuse material and trafficking minors. Notable arrests included a state trooper in Minneapolis accused of producing abuse material while wearing uniforms and an illegal alien from Mexico charged with transporting a minor across state lines.
Parental vigilance played a crucial role in several cases. In California, authorities arrested a man hours after a young victim reported abuse following an online safety presentation at school.
Operation Restore Justice aligns with National Child Abuse Prevention Month observed by the department in April. It highlights ongoing efforts under Project Safe Childhood launched by DOJ in May 2006 to combat child exploitation via internet resources like NCMEC’s hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST or missingkids.org.
The public is urged to report suspected exploitation through various channels including FBI’s tipline at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324) or tips.fbi.gov.
