Operation Spring Cleaning nabs 265 in massive California child exploitation crackdown

Los Angeles, California – A sweeping, multi-agency operation across Southern California has led to the arrest of 265 individuals suspected of child exploitation crimes, authorities announced today. The effort, dubbed “Operation Spring Cleaning,” spanned nearly two weeks in April and resulted in the rescue of 27 child victims, underscoring the relentless battle against online child predators.

Led by the Los Angeles Police Department and the Los Angeles Regional ICAC Task Force, an alliance of law enforcement agencies from Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara, and Ventura counties, the operation specifically targeted those who leverage the internet to exploit children. The crackdown unfolded in two distinct phases.

The initial phase involved extensive undercover investigations across various social media platforms, meticulously tracking and identifying suspected child predators. Authorities followed the investigation by a concentrated second phase where residential and arrest warrants were served across the five participating counties, targeting suspects involved in the distribution of child sexual abuse material, online exploitation, and a host of other offenses against children.

Disturbingly, many of those apprehended in connection with child exploitation-related crimes during the April 6-19 operation held positions of significant trust within their communities. Police stated that several suspects were employed or placed in roles that provided direct contact with children, highlighting the insidious nature of these crimes. The charges against the 265 arrestees were extensive and varied, including possession, distribution, or production of child sexual abuse material, lewd acts with a child, meeting a minor for indecent purposes, attempting to contact a minor for sex, and human trafficking. Other serious offenses included lewd and lascivious acts with a minor under 14, oral copulation with a minor, indecent exposure, child annoying, sending obscene matter to a child for sexual gratification, and failure to register as a convicted sex offender, along with various parole and probation violations.

“These arrests underscore the importance of vigilance and cross-agency collaboration in safeguarding children from individuals who use their trusted positions to exploit and harm the most vulnerable,” the LAPD stated, emphasizing the critical role of joint efforts in this ongoing fight. Authorities stressed that the united efforts of the LA ICAC Task Force and the community are crucial in keeping child predators at bay and ensuring children can navigate the internet without fear.

While the identities of the suspects were not released, authorities urged the public to remain vigilant and report any potential child sexual abuse activity. They encouraged individuals to visit takeitdown.ncmec.org to have abusive material removed, asserting that “by reporting the potential child sexual abuse activity, you are giving a potential victim a voice when they are often silenced due to circumstance.”