Jonathan D. Ross U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas
On May 7, 2025, the Department of Justice 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 across the country. 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.
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 the agency's dedication to pursuing those who exploit children. "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.
Jonathan D. Ross, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, stressed the importance of federal prosecution in these cases. "If you harm or exploit a child and we can find a way to federally prosecute you, we will," he declared.
Alicia D. Corder, FBI Little Rock Special Agent in Charge, praised law enforcement efforts in protecting children: "This operation is a testament to the efforts of the FBI and our dedicated law enforcement partners to protect children in our communities."
In one notable case during Operation Restore Justice, an individual in Arkansas was arrested for allegedly distributing large amounts of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) online. The defendant was found with multiple images depicting disturbing content involving minors.
Other arrests across different states involved various crimes such as production and distribution of CSAM, online enticement, transportation of minors for sex, and child sex trafficking. In Minneapolis, a state trooper was charged with producing CSAM while wearing his uniform; in Norfolk, VA., an illegal alien from Mexico faced charges for transporting a minor across state lines for sexual purposes; and in Washington D.C., a former police officer was accused of trafficking minors.
Community vigilance played a significant role in some arrests. In California, a man was apprehended shortly after a young victim reported their abuse following an online safety presentation at school.
Operation Restore Justice coincided with National Child Abuse Prevention Month observed by the Department in April. The initiative underscores ongoing efforts by Project Safe Childhood—a program launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006—to combat child sexual exploitation through coordinated federal-state-local actions.
The public is encouraged to report suspected child exploitation via various channels including calling 1-800-CALL-FBI or visiting tips.fbi.gov.
