In a significant crackdown on child sex predators, the Department of Justice has unveiled the results of Operation Restore Justice, spearheading a successful nationwide effort that led to the rescue of 115 children and the arrest of 205 individuals accused of child sexual abuse. According to a Department of Justice press release, the operation involved collaboration among all 55 FBI field offices, the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section of the Department’s Criminal Division, and various U.S. Attorney’s Offices, over a span of five days.
During these efforts, Attorney General Pamela Bondi emphasized the government’s stance on the issue, stating, “The Department of Justice will never stop fighting to protect victims — especially child victims — and we will not rest until we hunt down, arrest, and prosecute every child predator who preys on the most vulnerable among us,” while also directing prosecutors to discourage any plea agreements. Echoing this sentiment, FBI Director Kash Patel assured the public that the FBI’s commitment to protecting children is unwavering, vowing that no predator is beyond reach and no child forgotten, as reported by the Department of Justice. Highlighting the unified stance against child predators, FBI Oklahoma City Special Agent in Charge Doug Goodwater emphasized that the combined efforts of federal, state, and local agencies exert a formidable force against those who would harm children.
In Oklahoma, individuals such as Colt Travis Gladding, Sr. from Coyle and Dalton Cunningham of Alva face serious charges connected to the exploitation and possession of child pornography. As per a report by the Department of Justice, Gladding allegedly abused a minor over a two-year period and coerced the victim into sending sexual photos, while Cunningham's phone revealed possession and/or intent to view child pornography, including depictions of prepubescent children. Both cases are presided over with the understanding that these charges are allegations and any defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Operation Restore Justice brought to light various offensive behaviors including the production, distribution, and possession of child sexual abuse material, the online enticement and transportation of minors, along with child sex trafficking, with arrests occurring nationwide – in one case, a Minneapolis state trooper and Army Reservist was taken into custody for reportedly producing child sexual abuse material while donning his uniforms, while a former Metropolitan Police Department Police Officer faced allegations of trafficking minor victims in Washington, D.C.; in another instance, an illegal alien from Mexico was accused of transporting a minor across state lines for sex, exemplifying a range of grave offenses identified and tackled by the operation.
Highlighting the essential nature of community involvement, the operation benefited from vigilant parents and effective outreach, as demonstrated by the quick arrest of a California man after a school presentation by FBI agents prompted a young victim to disclose their abuse. The culmination of Operation Restore Justice signifies the ongoing dedication of the Justice Department during National Child Abuse Prevention Month in April, and is part of a larger drive by Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative commenced in 2006 to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse, bringing together diverse resources and agencies to eradicate these crimes and protect the innocence of children.
