The Department of Justice (DOJ) has announced the successful conclusion of Operation Restore Justice, a nationwide initiative targeting child sex trafficking and exploitation. Over a five-day period, federal agents arrested 205 individuals and rescued 115 children from abusive situations. Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel held a press conference in Washington, D.C., to detail the operation’s outcomes.
Among those apprehended were a Minnesota state trooper, a former Washington, D.C., police officer, and an illegal alien from Mexico. The charges against these individuals include child sex trafficking, possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material, and online enticement of minors. The operation involved agents from 55 FBI field offices across the country.
Attorney General Bondi emphasized the DOJ’s commitment to protecting children, stating, “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 also directed federal prosecutors to pursue maximum penalties without plea negotiations.
FBI Director Patel highlighted the collaborative effort, noting, “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.”
Attorney General Bondi also addressed the role of technology in facilitating these crimes, urging parents to monitor their children’s online activities. She warned that predators often pose as peers to exploit minors, stating, “Parents, you have to know this is so serious, your child has no right to privacy on the internet, none.”
