The San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department has recently completed a major sting operation, code-named Operation Spring Cleaning, targeting individuals involved in child sexual abuse and internet crimes against children. According to a KTLA report, the operation, which took place from April 5 to April 19, resulted in the arrest of more than 70 individuals on various charges, including possession of child pornography, failure to register as a sex offender, and contacting a minor for lewd purposes.
As part of the operation, Sheriff's deputies performed close to 500 compliance checks as well as executed numerous search warrants. The intensive effort led to arrests and arrest warrants issued for crimes ranging from rape to arranging to meet a minor to commit a sex crime, KTLA relayed details from the Sheriff's Department. Furthermore, law enforcement officials were able to "rescue multiple children from ongoing abuse," a crucial component of the operation’s success.
Undercover operations were a key tactic used during this extensive sweep. Detectives formed and maintained online personas on popular social media sites to intercept and arrest suspects engaging in illicit sexual conduct with what they believed were minors. A statement on the San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner Department detailed how over 30 residential search warrants resulted in multiple arrests for possession and distribution of child pornography, among other offenses. The statement also mentioned felons in possession of firearms being apprehended in the process.
The community can contact the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department at (909) 387-8313, or provide information anonymously through We-Tip at 1-888-78-CRIME or by visiting their website.
