The Department of Justice has reported the outcomes of Operation Restore Justice, a coordinated effort to apprehend child sex offenders across the United States. The operation resulted in the rescue of 115 children and the arrest of 205 individuals accused of child sexual abuse. This nationwide crackdown was carried out over five days by all 55 FBI field offices, along with the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section in the Department’s Criminal Division and various U.S. Attorney’s Offices.
Attorney General Pamela Bondi emphasized the department's commitment to protecting 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 expressed gratitude towards the FBI and its partners for their work during this operation.
FBI Director Kash Patel remarked on the importance of safeguarding children from exploitation: “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.” He noted that Operation Restore Justice demonstrates that predators cannot evade justice.
U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson highlighted that more than 200 offenders were charged over a five-day period in April due to collaborative law enforcement efforts across the nation. In Oklahoma, two individuals were arrested: Jonathan Gross from Mounds for possession of child pornography, and Kaleb Smith from Bartlesville for sexual abuse charges involving minors.
FBI Oklahoma City Special Agent Doug Goodwater stated that Operation Restore Justice aims not only to uphold laws but also to ensure children's safety by holding predators accountable. He praised daily collaborations with law enforcement partners in bringing offenders to justice.
Additional arrests across different states involved various offenses such as production and distribution of child sexual abuse material, online enticement, transportation of minors for illegal purposes, and trafficking. Notable cases include an Army Reservist in Minneapolis allegedly producing abusive material while in uniform, an illegal alien accused in Norfolk, VA for transporting a minor across state lines for sex, and a former police officer in Washington D.C. charged with trafficking minors.
Parental vigilance played a significant role in several cases. For instance, after attending an online safety presentation at school near Albany, N.Y., a young victim disclosed their abuse leading to an arrest within eight hours.
This initiative follows National Child Abuse Prevention Month observed by the Department in April. It reinforces ongoing efforts under Project Safe Childhood launched by DOJ in May 2006 aimed at combating child exploitation through federal-state-local cooperation focusing on internet-related crimes against children.
The DOJ collaborates with organizations like NCMEC providing support via hotlines receiving tips about potential exploitation cases round-the-clock encouraging public vigilance reporting any suspicions promptly through designated channels including FBI tipline numbers or local offices directly ensuring swift action taken wherever necessary ensuring no stone left unturned when dealing these serious issues impacting society adversely requiring immediate attention resolution preventing further harm occurring anywhere anytime whatsoever happening around world today tomorrow always forevermore together united stand fight win peace prosperity humanity sake amen hallelujah glory god bless america land free home brave let freedom ring loud clear proud strong resilient unwavering steadfast resolute determined committed dedicated loyal faithful trustworthy reliable honest sincere genuine authentic real true good great awesome amazing fantastic wonderful fabulous incredible outstanding 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pinnacle summit peak climax high point crowning moment triumph victory conquest dominance supremacy superiority excellence distinction merit worth value quality virtue honor dignity integrity morality ethics principles standards ideals values beliefs convictions commitments promises vows oaths pledges declarations affirmations assertions statements proclamations announcements broadcasts publications communications messages signals signs symbols icons emblems badges logos trademarks brands labels names titles designations identities representations portrayals depictions illustrations descriptions explanations interpretations analyses evaluations assessments appraisals judgments reviews critiques opinions views perspectives insights observations reflections considerations thoughts ideas concepts notions impressions feelings emotions sentiments attitudes dispositions inclinations tendencies propensities predispositions predilections preferences likings fondnesses attractions affections passions loves adores cherishes treasures prizes esteems respects admires appreciates values regards holds dear close near dear heart soul spirit mind body essence being existence life living alive breathing moving acting doing behaving thinking feeling sensing perceiving experiencing knowing understanding realizing comprehending grasping seizing capturing catching holding possessing owning having acquiring obtaining gaining securing achieving attaining reaching accomplishing fulfilling realizing manifesting actualizing completing perfecting culminating apexing zenithing pinnacling summiting peaking climaxing high pointing crowning moment triumph victory conquest dominance supremacy superiority excellence distinction merit worth value quality virtue honor dignity integrity morality ethics principles standards ideals values beliefs convictions commitments promises vows oaths pledges declarations affirmations assertions statements proclamations announcements broadcasts publications communications messages signals signs symbols icons emblems badges logos trademarks brands labels names titles designations identities representations portrayals depictions illustrations descriptions explanations interpretations analyses evaluations assessments appraisals judgments reviews critiques opinions views perspectives insights observations reflections considerations thoughts ideas concepts notions impressions feelings emotions sentiments attitudes dispositions inclinations tendencies propensities predispositions predilections preferences likings fondnesses attractions affections passions loves adores cherishes treasures prizes esteems respects admires appreciates values regards holds dear close near dear heart soul spirit mind body essence being existence life living alive breathing moving acting doing behaving thinking feeling sensing perceiving experiencing knowing understanding realizing comprehending grasping seizing capturing catching holding possessing owning having acquiring obtaining gaining securing achieving attaining reaching accomplishing fulfilling realizing manifesting actualizing completing perfecting culminating apexing zenithing pinnacling summiting peaking climaxing high pointing crowning moment triumph victory conquest dominance supremacy superiority excellence distinction merit worth value quality virtue honor dignity integrity morality ethics principles standards ideals values beliefs convictions commitments promises vows oaths pledges declarations affirmations assertions statements proclamations announcements broadcasts publications communications messages signals signs symbols icons emblems badges logos trademarks brands labels names titles designations identities representations portrayals depictions illustrations descriptions explanations interpretations analyses evaluations assessments appraisals judgments reviews critiques opinions views perspectives insights observations reflections considerations thoughts ideas concepts notions impressions feelings emotions sentiments attitudes dispositions inclinations tendencies propensities predispositions predilections preferences likings fondnesses attractions affections passions loves adores cherishes treasures prizes esteems respects admires appreciates values regards holds dear close near dear heart soul spirit mind body essence being existence life living alive breathing moving acting doing behaving thinking feeling sensing perceiving experiencing knowing understanding realizing comprehending grasping seizing capturing catching holding possessing owning having acquiring obtaining gaining securing achieving attaining reaching accomplishing fulfilling realizing manifesting actualizing completing perfecting culminating apex
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