Seven Arrested In NYC As Part Of National Child Protection Operation
The FBI’s New York Field Office announced the arrest of seven individuals accused of crimes against children as part of a nationwide enforcement initiative called Operation Restore Justice, a coordinated effort targeting child sex predators across the country.
The New York arrests were among 205 suspects apprehended nationwide during the five-day operation, which also resulted in the rescue of 115 children, according to federal authorities.
Multi-Agency Effort
“The FBI is relentless in our commitment to combatting child exploitation and abuse,” stated Assistant Director in Charge Christopher G. Raia in the announcement, according to the FBI’s New York Field Office.
The cases were investigated by the FBI/NYPD Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force and the FBI Hudson Valley Safe Streets Task Force, with assistance from multiple state and federal agencies including Homeland Security Investigations.
Nationwide Coordination
Operation Restore Justice represents an unprecedented nationwide initiative launched to mark April’s National Child Abuse Prevention Month, with all 55 FBI field offices participating in the coordinated enforcement effort.
The operation targeted individuals allegedly involved in crimes including the production, distribution, and possession of child sexual abuse material, online enticement of minors, and child sex trafficking, according to the Department of Justice.
Suspects From Various Backgrounds
Those arrested nationwide included individuals in positions of public trust, including law enforcement officers, military members, and teachers, as well as suspects from various communities and occupations.
In one case highlighted by authorities, a California man was arrested approximately eight hours after a victim came forward during an online safety presentation at a school near Albany, New York.
Continued Enforcement Efforts
“Throughout the entire month of April, the FBI, along with our state and local law enforcement partners, additionally arrested more than 190 perpetrators on charges related to crimes against children,” noted an FBI statement.
The operation represents an intensification of the FBI’s ongoing Violent Crimes Against Children program, which maintains 89 specialized task forces across the country dedicated to countering threats against children.
