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American Military News
20 hours ago
- American Military News
244 child sex predators arrested, 109 kids rescued in major FBI operation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) announced on Tuesday that 244 child sex predators were arrested and 109 children were rescued from online sexual exploitation in a recent operation in Texas. In a Tuesday press release, the FBI Dallas Field Office published the results of Operation Soteria Shield, which was conducted by the FBI Dallas Field Office's North Texas Child Exploitation Task Force and the North Texas Internet Crimes Against Children. According to the press release, over 70 law enforcement agencies in Texas worked as part of Operation Soteria Shield in order to 'combat the exploitation of children in the digital space.' FBI officials explained that law enforcement agencies used the 'expertise of highly skilled computer crimes investigators that worked around the clock' to identify over a hundred victims and arrest child sex abuse offenders who produced, distributed, or possessed child sexual abuse materials. The FBI said Operation Soteria Shield led to the arrest of 244 child sexual abuse offenders and the rescue of 109 children. Tuesday's press release also noted that law enforcement officials 'seized extensive volumes of digital evidence, including terabytes of illicit data stored on electronic devices that were used in the commission of these crimes' and explained that the electronic devices will be analyzed and could lead to the identification of other victims and child sex abuse offenders. READ MORE: Videos: 200+ child sex predators arrested, 115 kids rescued in major FBI operation 'Operation Soteria Shield brought together over 70 agencies from across the state of Texas, including police departments, federal agencies, state and federal prosecutors, children's advocacy centers, and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. We had a common goal, which was to rescue children from abuse and exploitation,' FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock said. 'This was not an easy operation, but a necessary one. The FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue to protect the children in our communities, and we will hold child predators accountable for their crimes.' In another Tuesday press release, Eastern District of Texas Acting U.S. Attorney Jay Combs described the number of children rescued and the number of child sex abuse offenders arrested as part of the joint law enforcement operation as 'stunning.' 'The numbers leave us breathless because, at some level, we understand that behind every statistic, every number, there is a child with dreams, aspirations, and the right to live a life free from sexual exploitation,' Combs said.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
109 Kids Saved, 244 Suspects Nabbed In Texas' ‘Operation Soteria Shield'
A month-long statewide law enforcement operation in Texas targeting online child exploitation resulted in the rescue of 109 children and the arrest of 244 suspects, authorities announced. Named Operation Soteria Shield, the effort was conducted in April 2025 and involved more than 70 Texas law enforcement agencies, led by the FBI Dallas Division, the North Texas Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Texas. The operation, supported by the National ICAC Task Force, focused on identifying and apprehending individuals involved in the production, distribution, and possession of child sexual abuse material. Participating agencies, including the Dallas, Plano, Wylie, and Garland police departments, seized terabytes of illicit digital content stored on electronic devices, which are now undergoing forensic analysis. Authorities said additional arrests and victim identifications are possible. 'The numbers of offenders arrested and children rescued in this operation are significant,' said Acting U.S. Attorney Jay Combs. 'We remain committed to investigating and prosecuting these crimes to protect children from online sexual exploitation.' The effort has already led to multiple grand jury indictments in the Eastern District of Texas for charges related to child pornography distribution and sexual exploitation of minors. The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children provided critical intelligence and case coordination, contributing to the operation's success. 'Operation Soteria Shield brought together over 70 agencies from across the state of Texas, including police departments, federal agencies, state and federal prosecutors, children's advocacy centers, and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. We had a common goal, which was to rescue children from abuse and exploitation,' said FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock. 'This was not an easy operation, but a necessary one. The FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue to protect the children in our communities, and we will hold child predators accountable for their crimes,' he added. Detective Rich, a key investigator from the Plano Police Department and member of the FBI Dallas Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, played a central role. Known nationally and internationally for his work on computer-facilitated crimes against children, Rich helped coordinate the efforts of skilled investigators working around the clock. 'Operation Soteria Shield was a massive team effort and a powerful reminder of what we can accomplish when we unite around one clear mission: protecting our kids and holding offenders accountable,' said Dallas Police Chief Daniel C. Comeaux. 'I am proud that the Dallas Police Department is the lead agency for the North Texas Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and am grateful for the many, many agencies who contributed to this successful operation.' Plano Police Chief Ed Drain emphasized the operation's broader impact. 'Online exploitation of children is one of the most insidious crimes we face as a society. It reaches into every community, crosses every boundary, and leaves lasting harm on its youngest victims,' Drain said. 'Through this operation, we not only rescued children from unimaginable abuse, but we also sent a clear message: those who seek to harm our children online will be found and brought to justice.' Wylie Police Chief Anthony Henderson highlighted the operation's resolve. 'The coordinated efforts of all agencies involved in Operation Soteria Shield serve as a powerful demonstration of unwavering dedication in the battle against online child exploitation,' Henderson said. 'By exposing the darkest corners of the Internet, this operation has targeted predators who seek to harm vulnerable children.' Garland Police Chief Jeff Bryan underscored the mission's significance. 'Operation Soteria Shield was more than an enforcement effort; it was a mission to rescue, protect, and restore hope,' Bryan said. 'The scale of this operation sends a strong message: predators will be pursued, and survivors will never stand alone.' Operation Soteria Shield stands as one of the largest efforts of its kind in Texas in recent years, showcasing the power of interagency collaboration. Participating agencies included the Abilene, Allen, Arlington, Fort Worth, Frisco, McKinney, and San Antonio police departments, among others, as well as the Collin, Denton, and Tarrant county sheriff's offices, the Texas Department of Public Safety, and federal agencies like Homeland Security Investigations. Authorities expressed gratitude to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children for its vital support. The operation's success reflects a shared commitment to protecting children and ensuring justice for survivors of online exploitation.
CBS News
3 days ago
- CBS News
109 children rescued, 244 arrested in Operation Soteria Shield, exposing widespread child exploitation in North Texas
Authorities call it a successful round up of child sex offenders, but it also shows how widespread the crime is in North Texas. The Dallas FBI office and some of the 70 law enforcement agencies that participated announced the results of Operation Soteria Shield on Tuesday. These are the faces of the 244 men and women charged with exploiting children for the purpose of sex trafficking or pornography. FBI Dallas It's the end of a month-long investigation by federal and local enforcement of a crime that authorities say is a year-round problem. "The number of offenders arrested and the children rescued in this operation are stunning," said Jay Combs, the U.S. Attorney Eastern District of Texas. "It's stunning to hear them repeated here." Operation Soteria Shield, which began in April, led to the rescue of 109 children. "During this operation, many of the children recognized or rescued were previously unidentified," said Plano Police Department Assistant Chief Dan Curtis. "They'd never been reported missing. They had never had their abuse known to authorities." The operation not only led to arrests and rescues but also to the seizure of terabytes of child abuse sex material through a collaborative effort that started 10 years ago and now includes 70 Texas law enforcement agencies. "What started as a small team with a bold idea has grown into something very powerful," said Greg Willis, the Collin County District Attorney. In a lot of these cases, authorities said the sex offenders never actually meet their victims face-to-face but use technology to coerce them into sending explicit images and videos. The head of the Dallas FBI office said the methods used don't just involve social media but also online gaming systems. "So I think for many of us, I'll speak for my generation, we were raised to be concerned about faceless strangers that might try to contact us or cause harm on the street, but we've moved past that," said Joseph Rothrock, the Dallas FBI Special Agent in Charge. "Again, predators have access to our children in our home through technology." Authorities urge families to use parental controls on any devices kids use and be aware that there are more faces like these still out there.
