The Department of Justice has revealed the results of Operation Restore Justice, a large-scale initiative targeting child sex offenders. This operation, which spanned five days and involved all 55 FBI field offices, led to the arrest of 205 individuals and the rescue of 115 children across the United States.
Attorney General Pamela Bondi emphasized the department's dedication to safeguarding victims, 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 expressed gratitude for the efforts of federal, state, and local partners involved in this operation.
FBI Director Kash Patel highlighted the comprehensive reach of their efforts: "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."
Acting United States Attorney Matthew R. Molsen remarked on his office's longstanding commitment to such cases: “The U.S. Attorney’s Office and our local FBI partners have a long history of prioritizing these types of cases and working together to achieve justice for victims of these crimes. We were proud to contribute to this initiative.”
Among those arrested was Kody Dickes from Ashland, Nebraska, charged with distribution and possession of child pornography. Other arrests nationwide included offenses such as production and distribution of abuse material, online enticement, transportation for illegal activities involving minors, and trafficking.
The crackdown comes after National Child Abuse Prevention Month in April. It underscores ongoing efforts by various agencies under Project Safe Childhood—an initiative launched in May 2006 aimed at tackling child exploitation via internet platforms.
The Department collaborates with organizations like the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) which operates a hotline for reporting suspected exploitation cases. They encourage public vigilance through resources like their tipline at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324) or tips.fbi.gov.
An indictment or complaint is merely an allegation; defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.