Justice Department Announces Results of Operation Restore Justice: 205 Child Sex Abuse Offenders Arrested in FBI-led Nationwide Crackdown

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Today, the Department of Justice announced the results of Operation Restore Justice, a coordinated enforcement effort to identify, track, and arrest child sex predators.  The operation resulted in the rescue of 115 children and the arrests of 205 child sexual abuse offenders in the nationwide crackdown. The coordinated effort was executed over the course of five days by all 55 FBI field offices, the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) in the Department’s Criminal Division, and United States Attorney’s Office around the country.

“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,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “I am grateful to the FBI and their state and local partners for their incredible work in Operation Restore Justice and have directed my prosecutors not to negotiate.”

“Every child deserves to grow up free from fear and exploitation, and the FBI will continue to be relentless in our pursuit of those who exploit the most vulnerable among us,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “Operation Restore Justice proves that no predator is out of reach and no child will be forgotten. By leveraging the strength of all our field offices and our federal, state, and local partners, we’re sending a clear message: there is no place to hide for those who prey on children.”

In the Northern District of Alabama, two individuals were arrested and charged with federal crimes, including attempted coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity, transferring obscene materials to minors, sexual exploitation of children, distribution of child pornography, receipt of child pornography, and coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity and traveling with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct.

“Protecting the most vulnerable members of our society remains a top priority,” said U.S. Attorney Prim Escalona. “These arrests are the result of strong collaboration between our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to protect victims from child exploitation. We will not rest until those who exploit and endanger our children are held accountable for their actions.”  

“Each arrest is a powerful testament to the tireless efforts of the FBI and our dedicated law enforcement partners to protect the most vulnerable among us,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge James DeLoatch, III. “It reaffirms our unwavering commitment to pursuing justice for victims and hold predators accountable.”

Jalan Christophe Lewis, 31, of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, was charged with attempted coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity, transferring obscene materials to minors, sexual exploitation of children, distribution of child pornography, receipt of child pornography, and coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity. These incidents occurred between July 2024 and November 2024 in Tuscaloosa County.

Robert John Newman, Jr. aka “Robert John Newman,” 28, of Glenshaw, Pennsylvania, was charged with sexual exploitation of children, coercion and enticement of a minor, and travelling with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct. These incidents occurred between December 2024 and January 2025 in Winston County, Alabama.

Others arrested around the country are alleged to have committed various crimes including the production, distribution, and possession of child sexual abuse material, online enticement and transportation of minors, and child sex trafficking. In Minneapolis, for example, a state trooper and Army Reservist was arrested for allegedly producing child sexual abuse material while wearing his uniforms. In Norfolk, Virginia, an illegal alien from Mexico is accused of transporting a minor across state lines for sex. In Washington, D.C., a former Metropolitan Police Department Police Officer was arrested for allegedly trafficking minor victims.

In many cases, parental vigilance and community outreach efforts played a critical role in bringing these offenders to justice. For example, a California man was arrested about eight hours after a young victim bravely came forward and disclosed their abuse to FBI agents after an online safety presentation at a school near Albany, New York.

This effort follows the Department’s observance of National Child Abuse Prevention Month in April and underscores the Department’s unwavering commitment to protecting children and raising awareness about the dangers they face. While the Department, including the FBI, investigates and prosecutes these crimes every day, April serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of preventing these crimes, seeking justice for victims, and raising awareness through community education.

The Justice Department is committed to combating child sexual exploitation. These cases were brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc.

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.org.

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

Other online resources:

Electronic Press Kit

Violent Crimes Against Children

How we can help you: Parents and caregivers protecting your kids

FBI Birmingham’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force and FBI Pittsburgh’s Crimes Against Children Task Force investigated these cases with substantial assistance from the West Alabama Human Trafficking Task Force, the Winston County, Alabama, Sheriff’s Office, and the Shaler Township Police Department in Pennsylvania. Assistant United States Attorneys R. Leann White and Daniel S. McBrayer are prosecuting the cases.

An indictment contains only charges.  A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.