Michele Beckwith Acting U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of California
Today, the Department of Justice revealed the outcomes of Operation Restore Justice, an initiative aimed at identifying and arresting child sex offenders. This operation led to the rescue of 115 children and the apprehension of 205 individuals accused of child sexual abuse across the United States. The coordinated effort spanned five days and involved all 55 FBI field offices, the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section within the Department's Criminal Division, and U.S. Attorney’s Offices nationwide.
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. Bondi also praised the FBI and their partners for their efforts in Operation Restore Justice.
FBI Director Kash Patel affirmed the agency's dedication to safeguarding children from exploitation. "Every child deserves to grow up free from fear and exploitation," Patel said. He added that Operation Restore Justice demonstrates that no predator is beyond reach and no child will be forgotten.
Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith noted how technology has increased both the severity and frequency of these crimes. She assured continued collaboration with law enforcement partners to locate offenders and ensure they face prosecution.
Special Agent in Charge Sid Patel from the FBI Sacramento Field Office reiterated this commitment: "No child should ever have to suffer at the hands of a predator." He highlighted ongoing efforts with federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to identify offenders.
In California's Eastern District, arrests included a Lodi man accused of sharing child pornography via Freenet, as well as a Solano County man allegedly involved in trafficking a missing teenager from Sacramento County.
Nationwide arrests included various charges such as production, distribution, possession of child sexual abuse material, online enticement, transportation of minors for sex purposes, and child sex trafficking. Specific cases involved individuals like a Minneapolis state trooper arrested for allegedly producing abuse material while in uniform; an illegal immigrant in Norfolk charged with transporting a minor for sex; and a former Washington D.C. police officer arrested for alleged trafficking offenses.
Community involvement played a crucial role in several cases. In one instance near Albany, New York, an arrest was made shortly after a victim disclosed their abuse following an online safety presentation by FBI agents.
This operation aligns with National Child Abuse Prevention Month observed by the Department in April, highlighting its ongoing mission to protect children through awareness initiatives like Project Safe Childhood launched in May 2006 by DOJ’s U.S Attorneys’ Offices alongside CEOS (Child Exploitation & Obscenity Section).
For further details on Project Safe Childhood or related resources regarding missing/exploited children including reporting suspected exploitation incidents—visit justice.gov/psc or contact NCMEC’s hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST (missingkids.org). Reports can also be submitted via FBI tipline (1-800-CALL-FBI) or tips.fbi.gov.
An indictment is merely an allegation; defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt within court proceedings.
