FBI: 205 Arrested, 115 Children Rescued in Five-Day Nationwide Operation “Restore Justice”

Hallelujah!

The FBI announced the results of a five-day nationwide crackdown aimed at identifying, tracking, and arresting individuals accused of crimes against children.
The Bureau says the surge operation—called Operation Restore Justice—involved coordination across all 55 FBI field offices and was tied to April’s National Child Abuse Prevention Month. Find out more about Operation Restore Justice by clicking here. 

What Happened:

The FBI reported 205 arrests nationwide and said 115 children were rescued during the five-day deployment of resources.
The Bureau also stated that some of those arrested held positions of public trust, including law enforcement, military, and teachers.

According to the FBI, the suspects are accused of 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.

More arrests reported throughout April

The FBI emphasized that the work extended beyond the five-day surge. The Bureau says that throughout April, the FBI and state/local partners
additionally arrested more than 190 people on charges related to crimes against children—bringing the total to nearly 400 arrests in one month.

What FBI Cleveland reported

The FBI’s Cleveland Field Office reported that it arrested 11 people as part of Operation Restore Justice.
The office also stated that since the start of 2025 it identified and arrested 28 individuals for violent crimes against children,
and in 2024 identified and arrested 37 individuals.

FBI Cleveland Special Agent in Charge Greg Nelsen said the arrests underscore the role of partnerships and collaboration across federal, state, and local agencies.

How cases are being developed

The FBI noted that in some cases, parents and community outreach played a key role—pointing to examples where disclosures followed an online safety presentation
and where tips from parents led to an investigation.

Programs the FBI says support these investigations

  • Violent Crimes Against Children (VCAC) program, described by the FBI as providing rapid and comprehensive capacity to counter threats of child abuse.
  • FBI partnerships through 89 Child Exploitation Human Trafficking Task Forces (CEHTTFs) nationwide.
  • The FBI’s Violent Crimes Against Children International Task Force, which the Bureau says includes nearly 100 task force officers representing 60+ countries.
  • Collaboration with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) and the FBI’s Endangered Child Alert Program (ECAP), which the FBI says has identified 36 individuals to date.

If you suspect a crime against a child

The FBI urges the public to report suspected crimes against a child immediately to 911 and local law enforcement, and also to the FBI at
1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324) or online via the FBI tip portal.