Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel and U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced on Wednesday that 205 alleged child sex predators were arrested in a five-day operation.
In a Wednesday press release, the Justice Department confirmed that all 55 FBI field offices worked with other agencies to arrest 205 “child sex predators” in “Operation Restore Justice,” which took place from April 28 to May 2. The Justice Department also confirmed that 115 children were rescued as a result of the operation.
The Justice Department explained that the 205 child sex predators included registered sex offenders, school leaders, and law enforcement members, who have been “accused of various crimes including the production, distribution and possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM); online enticement and transportation of minors; and child sex trafficking.”
During a Wednesday press briefing, Bondi described “Operation Restore Justice” as a “historic” and “unprecedented” operation across the nation. Bondi said children and their families will now have an opportunity to “heal” following the arrest of the child sex predators.
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Bondi described the child sex predators as “the dregs of our society” and “the worst of the worst” and emphasized that her department is committed to prosecuting child sex predators.
“What I will tell you is that these depraved human beings, if convicted, will face the maximum penalty in prison, some [for] life,” Bondi said. “We will find you. We will arrest you, and we will charge you. If you are online targeting a child, you will not escape us. The FBI and the Department of Justice will come after you, and we will prosecute you.”
Patel echoed Bondi’s threats to child predators during Wednesday’s press briefing. “If you harm our children, you will be given no sanctuary,” he warned. “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.”
Patel emphasized that the Trump administration has made it clear to child predators that they “will be hunted down” and “prosecuted” for their crime.
