The Department of Justice has announced the outcomes of Operation Restore Justice, a nationwide initiative aimed at apprehending child sex offenders. This operation resulted in the arrest of 205 individuals involved in child sexual abuse and led to the rescue of several children. The effort was conducted over five days with participation from all 55 FBI field offices, the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section within the Criminal Division, and various U.S. Attorney’s Offices.
Attorney General Pamela Bondi emphasized the department's commitment to protecting victims, particularly children. "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 stated.
FBI Director Kash Patel highlighted that no predator is beyond reach. "Every child deserves to grow up free from fear and exploitation, and the FBI will continue to be relentless in our pursuit of those who exploit the most vulnerable among us," he said.
In Illinois' Central District, Acting U.S. Attorney Gregory M. Gilmore expressed gratitude for law enforcement efforts: “Protecting our children from those who seek to exploit them and inflict harm is a top priority for our office.”
Christopher Johnson, FBI Springfield Special Agent in Charge, stressed zero tolerance for crimes against children: “There will be zero tolerance for those who commit crimes against our children."
Among those charged were Mark Peterson from Pekin, Illinois; Dalton Trader from Williamsville; and James Yeager from Springfield. These individuals face charges ranging from attempted enticement of a minor to possession of child pornography.
Operation Restore Justice also saw arrests across different states involving various offenses such as production and distribution of child sexual abuse material. The operation follows National Child Abuse Prevention Month in April as part of ongoing efforts by Project Safe Childhood since 2006.
The Department encourages vigilance against child exploitation through resources like NCMEC's hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST or reporting via tips.fbi.gov.
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