The Department of Justice has announced the outcomes of Operation Restore Justice, a nationwide initiative aimed at identifying and apprehending child sex offenders. The operation led to the rescue of 115 children and the arrest of 205 individuals involved in child sexual abuse offenses. This effort was conducted over five days by all 55 FBI field offices, along with the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section within the Department’s Criminal Division, and U.S. Attorney’s Offices across the country.
Attorney General Pamela Bondi stated, "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 expressed gratitude towards the FBI and its partners for their efforts in this operation.
FBI Director Kash Patel emphasized that "every child deserves to grow up free from fear and exploitation," highlighting that Operation Restore Justice demonstrates no predator is beyond reach. He noted that leveraging federal, state, and local partnerships sends a clear message: those who prey on children have nowhere to hide.
Acting U.S. Attorney Felice John Viti commented on Utah's involvement, stating that there is no shortage of work for prosecutors or law enforcement when it comes to addressing child sex abuse in Utah. Special Agent in Charge Mehtab Syed warned about online predators targeting children with internet access.
In Salt Lake City, investigations led to charges against Gustavo Uroza-Rodriguez for attempted coercion and enticement as well as possession of child pornography; Melissa Goodrich was charged with trafficking a minor. Nationwide arrests included various offenses such as production and distribution of child sexual abuse material.
Parental vigilance played a significant role in many cases; an example being a California man arrested shortly after a victim disclosed their abuse following an online safety presentation at school.
This initiative follows National Child Abuse Prevention Month observed in April by emphasizing protection efforts through Project Safe Childhood—an ongoing commitment since May 2006—to combat online exploitation while raising awareness via community education programs.
For more information about Project Safe Childhood visit www.justice.gov/psc or report suspected exploitation through FBI tipline at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324).