SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 28: San Francisco police officers and F.B.I. agents gather in front of the home of U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) on October 28, 2022 in San Francisco, California. Paul Pelosi, the husband of U.S. Speaker of the house Nancy Pelosi, was violently attacked in their home by an intruder. One arrest has been made. Speaker Pelosi was not at home at the time of the attack. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
San Diego, California – The Department of Justice has announced the successful culmination of Operation Restore Justice, a sweeping five-day coordinated enforcement initiative aimed at identifying, tracking, and apprehending individuals involved in child sexual abuse. The nationwide operation, executed by all 55 FBI field offices in collaboration with the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section within the Department’s Criminal Division and United States Attorney’s Offices across the country, resulted in the rescue of 115 children and the arrests of 205 alleged child sexual abuse offenders.
Attorney General Pamela Bondi emphasized the unwavering commitment of the Department of Justice to protecting children, 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 commended the FBI and their state and local partners for their dedicated efforts and directed prosecutors to refrain from negotiating with these offenders.
FBI Director Kash Patel echoed this sentiment, asserting, “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. Operation Restore Justice proves that no predator is out of reach and no child will be forgotten. By leveraging the strength of all our field offices and our federal, state and local partners, we’re sending a clear message: there is no place to hide for those who prey on children.”
U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon highlighted the importance of the coordinated effort, stating, “Protecting our community means identifying, arresting and holding accountable anyone who would prey on children. I’m grateful for the coordinated efforts of law enforcement in this district and across the nation, and our office will continue to prioritize these prosecutions to obtain justice for these vulnerable victims.”
Authorities apprehended four individuals, charging them with federal crimes in the Southern District of California. Seth Wheeler was indicted for the distribution and possession of child pornography. Adam Harrison Bryant, a previously convicted sex offender, was charged with possession of child pornography after an investigation revealed his alleged attempts to purchase such material online. Kristho Angel Valdez faces charges for the receipt of child sexual abuse images involving minor victims he allegedly contacted via Snapchat. Christopher David Miller was charged with attempted receipt and possession of child sexual abuse material after investigators traced attempts to obtain such content through a peer-to-peer file-sharing platform to his residences.
Across the nation, the arrests encompassed a range of alleged offenses, including the production, distribution, and possession of child sexual abuse material, online enticement, transportation of minors, and child sex trafficking. Noteworthy cases included the arrest of a state trooper and Army Reservist in Minneapolis for allegedly producing child sexual abuse material while in uniform, the apprehension of an illegal alien in Norfolk, VA, accused of transporting a minor across state lines for sexual purposes, and the arrest of a former Metropolitan Police Department officer in Washington, D.C., for alleged sex trafficking of minors.
The Department of Justice underscored the vital role of parental vigilance and community outreach in these investigations, citing an instance in California where a man was arrested within hours after a young victim disclosed abuse following an online safety presentation at a nearby school in New York. Operation Restore Justice follows the Department’s observance of National Child Abuse Prevention Month in April, reinforcing its ongoing commitment to safeguarding children and raising awareness about the dangers they face.
This initiative is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide effort launched in 2006 to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. The Department also partners with and oversees funding for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which operates a 24/7 hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST and the website missingkids.org for reporting tips. The public is urged to report any suspected child exploitation to the FBI via their tipline at 1-800-CALL-FBI, tips.fbi.gov, or their local FBI field office.
