Justice Department Announces Results of Operation Iron Pursuit

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah - The Department of Justice today announced the results of Operation Iron Pursuit, a one-month, nationwide enforcement effort to find child victims of sex abuse and arrest child sex predators. More than 200 child victims were located and over 350 child sexual abuse offenders were arrested. All 56 FBI field offices and U.S. Attorneys' offices around the country participated in the coordinated takedown effort.

The operation commenced April 1 and ended April 30. The Administration for Children and Families recognizes April as National Child Abuse Prevention MonthLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the "external link" icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link..

"This operation puts every child predator on notice: we are coming for you," said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. "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."

"Every single day this FBI is working 24/7 to break networks of child abusers all across this country," said FBI Director Kash Patel. "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 - with over 200 victims located and over 350 offenders arrested. 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."

"There is no greater priority in the District of Utah than protecting and pursuing justice for our children," said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa Holyoak of the District of Utah. "As with this administration, the U.S. Attorney's Office will continue vigorously to combat crimes against children and hold offenders accountable."

"Every child matters and deserves the opportunity to grow up free from harm," said Special Agent in Charge Robert Bohls of the Salt Lake City FBI. "The FBI and our partners will continue working tirelessly to stop those who prey on our most vulnerable and hold them accountable."

Victims recovered include a 10-year-old from Utah who was flown from Cuba to home and the child's biological mother. The child was supposed to be on a camping trip with a transgender parent, partner, and another child. The group instead flew from Canada to Mexico and then to Cuba; concerns existed that the 10-year-old child was taken to Cuba for gender reassignment surgery. FBI Victim Services Division (VSD) assisted with the recovery of the children, providing crisis support and stabilization.

Those arrested are alleged to have committed various crimes, including sexual exploitation, sex trafficking, abuse, kidnapping, and possessing, distributing, or receiving child sexual abuse materials (CSAM). Some of the alleged offenders include:

• A Columbus, Ohio, man who pleaded guilty to creating AI-generated obscene material of adults and children and to cyberstalking exes;
• A District of Columbia man charged with producing child pornography;
• A New York man charged with sexually exploiting a child; and
• A Pennsylvania man and former felon charged with sexually exploiting a child and illegally possessing a gun.

This effort follows three other successful operations last year. Operation Relentless Justice, concluded in December 2025, resulted in the rescue of 205 children and arrests of 293 offenders. Operation Enduring Justice, concluded in August 2025, resulted in the rescue of 133 children and the arrests of 234 offenders. And Operation Restore Justice, concluded in May 2025, resulted in the rescue of 115 children and the arrests of 205 child sex abuse offenders.

The FBI's VSD assisted victims during Operation Iron Pursuit and provided services such as forensic interviews, referrals for medical and mental health resources, and coordination with partners. VSD's mission is to inform, support, and assist victims in navigating the aftermath of crime and the criminal justice process with dignity and resilience.

The Department partners with and oversees funding grants for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), which receives and shares tips about possible child sexual exploitation received through its 24/7 hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST and on missingkids.orgLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the "external link" icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link..

The Department urges the public to remain vigilant and report suspected exploitation of a child through the FBI's tipline at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324), tips.fbi.gov, or by calling your local FBI field office.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.