The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas, in collaboration with the North Texas Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and FBI Dallas’s North Texas Child Exploitation Task Force, announced the conclusion of Operation Soteria Shield. This month-long enforcement effort took place in April 2025 and focused on rescuing children from online sexual exploitation and prosecuting offenders.
The operation involved over 70 Texas law enforcement agencies working together to combat child exploitation online. These agencies utilized skilled computer crimes investigators who worked continuously to identify victims and arrest those involved in producing, distributing, or possessing child sexual abuse material.
Operation Soteria Shield successfully rescued 109 children and led to the arrest of 244 offenders. Investigators also seized large amounts of digital evidence, including terabytes of illicit data stored on electronic devices used in these crimes. Forensic analysis of these devices is ongoing and may result in further arrests and identification of more victims.
Eastern District of Texas Acting U.S. Attorney Jay Combs commented on the operation's impact: “The numbers of offenders arrested, and children rescued in this operation are stunning. The numbers leave us breathless because, at some level, we understand that behind every statistic, every number, there is a child with dreams, aspirations, and the right to live a life free from sexual exploitation.” He emphasized their commitment to investigating and prosecuting such cases vigorously to protect children.
In addition to arrests for distributing child pornography, grand jury indictments have been issued for individuals involved in sexually exploiting children to produce abuse material.
Operation Soteria Shield highlights effective interagency cooperation against child predators while ensuring survivors receive support. Participating agencies expressed gratitude towards the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) for providing crucial intelligence and case coordination during the operation.
