The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Justice have announced that 115 children have been rescued and 205 alleged pedophile sex predators have been arrested as part of “Operation Restore Justice.”
The arrests were announced in press releases on Wednesday morning.
All 55 FBI field offices were involved in the nationwide five-day operation.
The FBI said in a statement, “The Federal Bureau of Investigation has concluded a national surge of resources to arrest accused child sex abuse offenders and combat child exploitation. In a coordinated effort by all 55 FBI field offices called Operation Restore Justice, 205 people were arrested nationwide, and 115 children were rescued across the country during the five-day surge of resources deployed for Operation Restore Justice.”
FBI Director Kash Patel said the operation’s success proves “no predator is out of reach and no child will be forgotten.”
“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,” said Patel. “Operation Restore Justice proves that no predator is out of reach and no child will be forgotten. By leveraging the strength of all our field offices and our federal, state and local partners, we’re sending a clear message: there is no place to hide for those who prey on children.”
The DOJ added, “Those arrested are alleged to have committed various crimes including the production, distribution, and possession of child sexual abuse material, online enticement and transportation of minors, and child sex trafficking. In Minneapolis, for example, a state trooper and Army Reservist was arrested for allegedly producing child sexual abuse material while wearing his uniforms. In Norfolk, VA, an illegal alien from Mexico is accused of transporting a minor across state lines for sex. In Washington, D.C., a former Metropolitan Police Department Police Officer was arrested for allegedly trafficking minor victims.”
In one example, a California man was arrested after his victim bravely told FBI agents about the abuse after an online safety presentation at their school near Albany, NY.
In another case, Justin Enright, 51, of Millsboro, Delaware, a felon convicted on federal child sexual abuse charges, was arrested after violating the terms of his probation, including intent to view child pornography. Joel Thomas Biermann, 46, of University Park, Maryland, was indicted for two counts of producing child sexual abuse material, one count of distributing child sexual abuse material, and one count of possessing child sexual abuse material. Donald Robert Wilt Edwards, Sr., 29, of West Virginia, was indicted for sexually exploiting a minor, as well as three counts of distribution of child sexual abuse material, and one count of possession of child pornography.
“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,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “I am grateful to the FBI and their state and local partners for their incredible work in Operation Restore Justice and have directed my prosecutors not to negotiate.”
The FBI’s press release explained:
This initiative, taking place between April 28th and May 2nd, was a joint effort with federal, state, and local partners to coincide with the end of Child Abuse Prevention Month and highlight the FBI’s ongoing efforts to confront these crimes. Investigating child sex abuse is an ongoing, high-priority mission of the FBI. The FBI’s Violent Crimes Against Children (VCAC) program coordinates and bolsters efforts to counter all threats of abuse and exploitation of children that fall under FBI jurisdiction—including the production, sharing, and possession of child sexual abuse material; domestical or international travel to engage sexually with children; and the extortion of children to provide sexually explicit material of themselves. VCAC also helps to identify, locate, and recover child victims and strengthen partnerships that are critical to prevent abuse and capture offenders.
The FBI investigates cases through Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Forces (CEHTTFs) located in each field office, allowing the FBI to combine resources with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. The FBI also partners with the nonprofit National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), which receives and shares tips about possible child sexual exploitation received through its 24-hour hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST and on missingkids.org.
To submit a tip about the potential exploitation of a child, call 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324), visit tips.fbi.gov, or call your local FBI field office.
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