More Than 200 Children Rescued, 350 People Arrested in DOJ Operation

Federal authorities announced on May 5 that a month-long nationwide operation led to finding more than 200 child victims and the arrest of more than 350 child sexual abuse offenders, underscoring expanded efforts in the fight against the sexual exploitation of minors.

Operation Iron Pursuit took place between April 1 and April 30 and was executed by all 56 FBI field offices, as well as U.S. attorneys’ offices nationwide, the Justice Department announced. The coordinated effort sought to identify victims of sex abuse and apprehend the predators.

“This operation puts every child predator on notice: We are coming for you,” acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said. “The sexual exploitation of minors is an abomination with no place in our society. We will hunt down these offenders, hold them fully accountable under the law, and deliver justice for victims.”

FBI Director Kash Patel highlighted the bureau’s ongoing actions.

“Every single day, this FBI is working 24/7 to break networks of child abusers all across this country,” Patel said in a statement. “Last year, we joined our partners delivering a record year, identifying and rescuing over 6,300 missing children, and today’s announcement of Operation Iron Pursuit is just the latest success in that work.

“Let this be a message to criminal actors who seek to target America’s children: You will be pursued, and you will be brought to justice.”

The operation took place in April, which is designated as National Child Abuse Prevention Month by the Administration for Children and Families. The arrested individuals stand accused of sexual exploitation, sex trafficking, abuse, kidnapping, and the possession, distribution, or receipt of child sexual abuse material, the Justice Department said.

Cases cited in public records include a Columbus, Ohio, man who pleaded guilty to creating artificial intelligence-generated obscene material of adults and children and to cyberstalking exes. In Washington, a man who was apprehended was charged with producing child pornography. A man in New York state is alleged to have sexually exploited a child. A Pennsylvania man and former felon was charged with sexually exploiting a child and illegal possession of a gun.

The children saved include a 10-year-old from Utah, who was flown from Cuba back to the child’s biological mother. The child had been taken on what was supposed to be a camping trip. He was instead transported through Canada, Mexico, and Cuba amid concerns about potential gender reassignment surgery, according to the department. FBI Victim Services Division provided crisis support during recoveries.

Operation Iron Pursuit comes after Operation Relentless Justice in December 2025 rescued 205 children and arrested 293 offenders. Operation Enduring Justice in August 2025 found 133 children and arrested 234. Operation Restore Justice in May 2025 led to 115 children being recovered and 205 arrests.

The initiative is part of Project Safe Childhood, a long-standing national effort started in 2006 to counter child sexual exploitation and abuse, focusing on disrupting networks that prey on minors through online and offline means.