On May 12, 2025, the Department of Justice revealed the outcomes of Operation Restore Justice, a coordinated effort to track and apprehend child sex offenders. This operation led to the rescue of 115 children and the arrest of 205 individuals across the United States. The initiative involved all 55 FBI field offices, the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section in the Criminal Division, and U.S. Attorney’s Offices nationwide.
In Georgia's Southern District, two arrests were made: Michael Alexander James from Waynesboro and Martin Lindner from Augusta. Both face federal charges for possession of child pornography, as disclosed by Tara M. Lyons, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.
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 commended the FBI for their work in this operation.
FBI Director Kash Patel emphasized: “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 shows that no predator is beyond reach.
Acting U.S. Attorney Lyons added: “Possessing child pornography perpetuates the victimization of child sexual abuse survivors.”
Arrests across other regions involved various crimes such as production and distribution of child sexual abuse material, online enticement, transportation of minors for illegal activities, and trafficking. Notable cases include a state trooper in Minneapolis accused while wearing uniforms and an individual in Norfolk accused of transporting a minor across state lines.
Parental vigilance was key in several cases. For instance, a man was arrested shortly after a young victim reported abuse following an online safety session near Albany.
Operation Restore Justice coincided with National Child Abuse Prevention Month observed by the Department in April. It highlights ongoing efforts to combat child exploitation through Project Safe Childhood launched by DOJ in May 2006.
The Department collaborates with organizations like NCMEC to handle reports on potential exploitation through its hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST or missingkids.org.
The public is encouraged to report any suspected exploitation via FBI's tipline at 1-800-CALL-FBI or tips.fbi.gov.
An indictment remains an allegation; defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt in court.