In a sweeping nationwide crackdown, the Trump administration’s Department of Justice announced Wednesday that a five-day operation led by the FBI resulted in the arrests of 205 suspected child predators and the rescue of 115 children. Dubbed Operation Restore Justice, the effort spanned all 55 FBI field offices and was hailed as “historic” by Attorney General Pam Bondi.
The operation uncovered disturbing examples of abuse and trafficking, with suspects including law enforcement officers, educators, and even members of the military. In just under a week, investigators from the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, along with U.S. Attorney’s Offices nationwide, helped dismantle what officials described as “networks of exploitation.”
One particularly egregious case involved a state trooper and Army reservist in Minneapolis, who was allegedly producing child sexual abuse material while in uniform. In Washington, D.C., a former Metropolitan Police officer was arrested for allegedly trafficking minors. Meanwhile, an illegal alien in Norfolk, Virginia, is facing charges for transporting a minor across state lines for sex.
Attorney General Bondi was blunt in her statement: “We will not rest until we hunt down, arrest, and prosecute every child predator who preys on the most vulnerable among us.” She added that DOJ prosecutors have been directed not to negotiate plea deals in these cases.
FBI Director Kash Patel described the sting as a message to predators across the country: “Operation Restore Justice proves that no predator is out of reach and no child will be forgotten.” Patel emphasized the importance of community involvement, parental awareness, and relentless coordination between federal, state, and local law enforcement.
Key figures from across the country highlight the scale of the operation:
- Charlotte, NC: 6 arrests, including a convicted sex offender charged with trafficking a minor
- Cleveland, OH: 11 arrests
- Boston, MA: 7 arrests
- Newark, NJ: 5 arrests
- Baltimore, MD: 3 arrests
The suspects face a range of serious charges, including the production and distribution of child sexual abuse material, sex trafficking, and transporting minors across state lines. Many of those arrested are already registered sex offenders — a point that underscores what the DOJ sees as systemic failures under previous administrations.
Bondi said that this latest operation reflects a broader shift in federal law enforcement’s priorities under President Trump’s second term. “We’re sending a signal: if you exploit a child, we will find you — and you will pay the price.”
The DOJ credited the success of the sting in part to increased community outreach and parental vigilance, which resulted in dozens of tipoffs and leads. Investigators say more arrests are likely in the coming weeks as additional suspects are identified and evidence is processed.
With the border tight and immigration laws enforced more aggressively, federal officials noted that known trafficking routes — especially those operated by MS-13 and other transnational criminal networks — have been severely disrupted. Operation Restore Justice, according to Patel, is just one example of how the administration is “rebuilding trust and safety in communities long abandoned by soft-on-crime leadership.”
Trump’s critics may continue to squabble over judicial appointments or economic policy, but when it comes to hunting child predators, the message is clear: this DOJ isn’t playing games.
