The FBI said it rescued 109 children, many previously reported missing, and nabbed 244 child predators involved in an online sexplotation ring as part of the month-long Operation Soteria Shield.
“Our FBI Dallas team announced a huge takedown of child abusers in Texas. 109 child recuses, almost 250 offenders arrested, and nearly 400 total charges at the federal and state level,” FBI Director Kash Patel said about the April 2025 operation.
Working with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, the FBI announced the culmination of the operation in a press conference held Tuesday.
“Over 70 federal, state, and local public/private partners coming together to protect America’s kids from criminals. We’re taking them off the street and not stopping,” Patel said on X.
244 alleged child predators arrested in OPERATION SOTERIA SHIELD
undefined True Texas Project (@TrueTXProject) June 11, 2025
The FBI just conducted a massive operation in Texas and arrested 244 individuals on charges relating to child s*x crimes.
They also rescued 109 children some of whom had been reported missing. pic.twitter.com/HkJD1B1xwY
Computer crimes investigators helped break open case
Highly-skilled computer crimes investigators were brought in by law enforcement and said to have worked “around the clock" to identify victims.
“We had a common goal, which was to rescue children from abuse and exploitation. This was not an easy operation, but a necessary one,” said FBI Dallas’ Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock.
The computer specialists also played a major role in the arrests by helping to identify the hundreds of pedophiles found “engaging with the production, distribution, and possession of child sexual abuse material,” the FBI announcement said.
Dozens of agencies from across the state of Texas, including police departments, federal agencies, state and federal prosecutors, and children's advocacy centers, took part in the collaboration, including the North Texas Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
According to local police, many of the children recognized or rescued were previously unidentified.
"They'd never been reported missing. They had never had their abuse known to authorities," said Plano Police Department Assistant Chief Dan Curtis.
Besides the 244 arrests, “extensive volumes of digital evidence” were seized by authorities, including electronic devices said to contain terabytes of illicit data.
Forensic investigators are now combing through that evidence, which the FBI believes could lead to more arrests and the identification of additional victims.
“Online exploitation of children is one of the most insidious crimes we face as a society. It reaches into every community, crosses every boundary, and leaves lasting harm on its youngest victims,” said Plano Police Chief Ed Drain.
Operation Soteria Shield brought together an unprecedented level of collaboration and resolve to confront this crisis head-on. Through this operation, we not only rescued children from unimaginable abuse, but we also sent a clear message: those who seek to harm our children online will be found and brought to justice. Our work is far from over, but this effort has made our communities safer and brought hope to those who need it most,” the Police Chief said.
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