Authorities say a yearlong crackdown on online child sexual exploitation across the Inland Empire has ended with 42 arrests, wrapping up an expansive investigation into people accused of trading child sexual abuse material. The sweep, which officials announced Monday, also pulled in several professionals who were trusted in positions of public responsibility.
The probe, dubbed Operation Volcano, launched in March 2025 and flagged more than 500 suspected distributors of child sexual abuse images. Investigators say they zeroed in on suspects they considered the highest risk, including people already under criminal-justice supervision, those with prior sexual-offense histories and anyone working directly with children. The multiagency operation drew support from Homeland Security Investigations, the California Highway Patrol and Internet Crimes Against Children task forces in Los Angeles and San Diego, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Who Was Arrested
The 42 people arrested live in 19 Riverside County cities, with the biggest clusters in Menifee, Riverside and Moreno Valley, officials said. Those booked range in age from 21 to 81. The list includes a retired law-enforcement employee, a California prison information-technology worker, three registered sex offenders and an array of white-collar professionals, such as corporate vice presidents, a hospital chief technology officer, a notary public, a postal employee and a child psychologist.
“A person wanted for child sexual assault, two corporate vice presidents and a child psychologist were among 42 people arrested,” according to the Los Angeles Times.
How Investigators Traced the Networks
Investigators say they tracked suspected distributors by pinpointing IP addresses that were sharing illicit material through peer-to-peer networks, then worked backward to identify the people behind the screens. From there, they narrowed the list to those they believed posed the most immediate danger to children.
The Riverside County Child Exploitation Team also partnered with the nonprofit Our Rescue, which helped sort through large volumes of digital leads and assisted with victim-centered follow-up, the organization says. For more on the nonprofit's regional work with ICAC partners, see Our Rescue.
Local Context and Earlier Recoveries
Operation Volcano is unfolding alongside other recent child-focused enforcement pushes in the region. In March, the U.S. Marshals Service and the Riverside County sheriff’s Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force carried out a weeklong operation that recovered dozens of missing teens.
Riverside sheriff’s officials estimate that about 5,000 to 6,000 children run away or go missing in the county each year. Most make it back home quickly, but some end up vulnerable to exploitation. For details on the child-recovery operation and local statistics, see the release from the Riverside County Sheriff's Office.
What the Law Says
Federal law makes it a crime to produce, receive or distribute child sexual abuse material and allows for lengthy prison sentences in many cases. The U.S. Department of Justice provides a citizen’s guide that walks through the key federal statutes and penalties.
On the state side, California’s Penal Code 311 series criminalizes the manufacture, distribution and possession of sexual images of minors, with additional state penalties and sex-offender registration requirements tied to certain convictions. For federal context, see the U.S. Department of Justice, and for the state’s statutory language, see the California Legislature (Penal Code 311).
How to Report Tips
Officials say the investigation is far from over. Local and federal prosecutors will now review the evidence that agents have collected and decide what charges to file in each case.
Anyone with information about possible child exploitation is urged to contact local law enforcement, Riverside County’s Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force or file a report through the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children’s CyberTipline. NCMEC also runs a 24-hour hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST. For more reporting resources, see the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.
