More than 200 suspected child sexual abuse offenders were arrested were resulted as part of a nationwide crackdown, the U.S. Department of Justice confirmed on May 7.
Over the course of five days, authorities arrested 205 alleged offenders, rescuing 115 children as part of an FBI-led effort called Operation Restore Justice, the Justice Department said. FBI field offices from across the country participated in the operation.
“If you harm our children you will be given no sanctuary,” FBI Director Kash Patel said at a May 7 news conference. “There is no place we will not come to hunt you down. There is no place we will not look for you. And there is no cage we will not put you in should you do harm to our children.”
The department said it is seeking the maximum sentence for every suspect arrested during the operation. Seven cases have been brought forward with criminal charges, pleas or sentences in the Western District of Washington, according a news release.
Justice Department: Children lured in-person and over the internet
Of the 115 rescued child victims, some were lured in-person and others online, the Justice Department said.
The alleged crimes include the “production, distribution and possession of child sexual abuse material, online enticement and transportation of minors, and child sex trafficking,” the Justice Department said.
“This kind of work takes the toll on the FBI agents and the prosecutors who are doing this every day,” Attorney General Pam Bondi said at the news conference. “They are working tirelessly online dealing with the drugs of our society. The worst of the worst. The people that hide behind a computer and target our children.”
Among the cases are one of a California man who was arrested eight hours after a New York child victim reported their abuse to FBI agents, the department confirmed.
Officials say “parental vigilance and community outreach efforts” played a major role in the arrests.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 205 alleged child sex offenders arrested after FBI crackdown