The Norfolk and Richmond field offices of the Federal Bureau of Investigation took part in a coordinated enforcement effort to identify, track and arrest child sex predators.
The Department of Justice reports that the operation resulted in the rescue of 115 children and the arrests of 205 child sexual abuse offenders in the nationwide crackdown.
The coordinated effort was executed over the course of five days by all 55 FBI field offices.
“Finding and arresting offenders who prey on children is one of the FBI’s top priorities,” said Steven J. Jensen, assistant director in charge of the FBI Washington Field Office. “I thank our partners in law enforcement and at U.S. attorney’s offices for their unwavering support. Through collaboration, rigorous enforcement, and a shared dedication to justice, we are working together to prevent child abuse and ensure safer futures for all children.”
Those arrested are alleged to have committed various crimes including the production, distribution and possession of child sexual abuse material, online enticement and transportation of minors and child sex trafficking.
Some of the arrests included:
- In Norfolk, a person from Mexico is accused of transporting a minor across state lines for sex
- In Washington, D.C., a former Metropolitan Police Department Police Officer was arrested for allegedly trafficking minor victims
- The FBI Washington field office also made two arrests in the Eastern District of Virginia as part of this operation
- The FBI Norfolk field office arrested three people
- A suspect from Williamsburg was arrested after he allegedly threatened to sexually abuse a local police officer’s young family member. The suspect also allegedly sent photos of the officer’s personal residence to the officer to demonstrate that he had knowledge of where he lived, as well as obscene visual representations of the sexual abuse of children.
- The FBI Richmond field office arrested two people in Henrico and Richmond for possession and receipt of child sexual abusive material as part of this operation.
“Child sexual exploitation cases are among the most disturbing the FBI works,” said FBI Norfolk acting special agent in charge, Patrick O’Brien. “It’s why the work that we do in this field is so impactful.”
National Child Abuse Prevention Month in April serves as a reminder of the importance of preventing these crimes, seeking justice for victims and raising awareness through community education.
For more information, visit www.justice.gov/psc.
To report the suspected exploitation of a child, contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324), tips.fbi.gov or by calling your local FBI field office.
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Crystal Graham
