Authorities arrested more than 200 suspected child predators in a five-day, multiagency operation centered on online contact with minors last week, federal officials announced Wednesday. “These depraved human beings, if convicted, will face the maximum penalty in prison — some life,” Attorney General Pam Bondi said during a news conference. Because of the 205 arrests, Bondi said, 115 children across the U.S. were rescued from online predators. Charges include online enticement, child sex trafficking and the production, distribution and possession of child sexual abuse material, per a news release. The investigation, dubbed “Operation Restore Justice,” was a joint effort of 55 FBI field offices and more than 90 U.S. Attorneys Offices across the country, the release said.
Teachers, law enforcement personnel and other professionals expected to safeguard children were among those arrested, Patel said. He offered examples of three defendants: a state trooper and former Army Reserve member in Minneapolis who was arrested for producing child sexual abuse material while in uniform, an illegal immigrant in Norfolk, Virginia who was arrested for allegedly transporting a minor across state lines and a former police officer in Washington, D.C. who was arrested for exploiting victims while on supervised release for a prior sex offense.
