Justice Department Announces Results of Operation Relentless Justice

ALBANY, NEW YORK – The Department of Justice announced the results of Operation Relentless Justice, a coordinated enforcement effort to identify, track, and arrest child sex predators. The nationwide crackdown resulted in over 205 child victims being located and the arrests of over 293 child sexual abuse offenders. The coordinated effort was executed over the course of two weeks by all 56 FBI field offices, the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) in the Department’s Criminal Division, and U.S. Attorneys’ offices around the country.

“We will not allow evil criminals who prey on children to evade justice,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “Our federal agents have worked tirelessly alongside our state and local partners to track down these vile predators, and now our prosecutors will ensure they receive severe punishments to match their horrific crimes.”

“Operation Relentless Justice shows no child will be forgotten and that all predators targeting the most vulnerable amongst us will be held accountable,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “This year, the FBI has led multiple nationwide surges across the U.S. to find and arrest hundreds of child predators. We will not stop until every child can live a life free of exploitation. We will utilize the strength of all our field offices and our federal, state, and local partners to protect communities across the nation from such horrific crimes.”

John A. Sarcone III, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of New York, stated: “Operation Relentless Justice reflects our tireless commitment to keeping our children safe. I am proud of the work of the prosecutors in my Office and the men and women of the FBI, who are truly relentless in their pursuit of justice on behalf of the most vulnerable and precious members of our communities. We will remain steadfast in getting every single child predator off the streets and behind bars.”  

Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albany Field Office, stated: “Operation Relentless Justice was a huge success thanks to the strong partnerships on our Human Trafficking and Child Exploitation Task Force. Working together, we removed eight dangerous predators from our communities. Six were charged federally and two were charged by New York State. And we won’t stop there. The FBI will continue to leverage our law enforcement partners to use every resource at our disposal to identify, investigate, and bring to justice any predator seeking to harm our most vulnerable.”

In the Northern District of New York, those arrested and charged, in separate cases, are:

• Thomas J. Meehan, age 36, of Valatie, New York, who is alleged to have been selling child sexual abuse material (CSAM) depicting victims less than 13 years old over the internet for at least two years.  Numerous images and videos of CSAM were also found on the defendant’s cell phone. Meehan faces at least 5 years in prison. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin S. Clark is prosecuting the case.
   
• David McMurray, age 42, of Utica, New York, who was previously convicted in federal court for distribution, receipt, and possession of child pornography and was sentenced to 87 months in federal prison and a term of 20 years of post-release supervision. As alleged, on September 2, 2025, while McMurray was still on supervision for his prior conviction, the United States Probation Office conducted a search of McMurray’s residence in Utica, New York and recovered a cell phone McMurray was not authorized to possess. A subsequent search of the phone by FBI revealed that McMurray had used it to search for and access with intent to view CSAM online. McMurray faces at least 10 years in prison. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael D. Gadarian and Adrian S. LaRochelle are prosecuting the case.
   
• Vincent Lee Evans, age 45, of Rensselaer, New York, who allegedly possessed approximately 2,400 images and 150 videos of CSAM on a cell phone while on supervision in connection with his prior federal conviction for possession of child pornography. Evans faces at least 10 years in prison. Assistant U.S. Attorney A.J. Vickey is prosecuting the case.
   
• David Wickham, age 37, of Blossvale, New York, who allegedly used various social media applications to distribute and receive CSAM and was a member of group chats dedicated to exchanging CSAM depicting very young children.  CSAM files were also found on Wickham’s cell phone. Wickham faces at least 5 years in prison. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ben Gillis is prosecuting the case.
   
• Mark Porto, age 58, of Albany, New York, who allegedly received CSAM depicting pre-pubescent minors via the Internet between October 2022 and February 2023. Porto faces at least 5 years in prison. Assistant U.S. Attorney A.J. Vickey is prosecuting the case.
   
• James Winston III, age 27, of Utica, New York, who allegedly possessed a cell telephone that contained numerous CSAM files. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adrian S. LaRochelle is prosecuting the case.

Those arrested throughout the country are alleged to have committed various crimes, including the production, distribution, and possession of CSAM; online enticement and transportation of minors; and child sex trafficking. Some of the alleged offenders include an airman out of Dallas, TX, who was arrested with his wife for producing CSAM, as well as a Police Officer from Raleigh, NC, who distributed CSAM to an undercover officer while discussing his interest in engaging in sexual contact with children. In another case involving enticement of a minor, the Miami Field Office arrested a Guatemalan national who was previously deported in 2011, and had previous arrests for battery, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, and carrying a concealed weapon.

As sextortion cases continue to rise, this operation highlights arrests of individuals who target vulnerable children online including the five leaders of Greggy’s Cult, as well as a Virginia man who persuaded a 14-year-old to produce CSAM.  The victim attempted suicide after he allegedly told her to kill herself. 

This effort follows other successful operations, including Operation Restore Justice in May, which resulted in the rescue of 115 children and the arrests of 205 child sex abuse offenders, including 8 from the Northern District of New York.

The FBI’s Victim Services Division (VSD) assisted victims during this operation and provided services, to include 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.

These operations underscore the Department’s unwavering commitment to protecting children and 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 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 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.

Indictments and complaints are merely allegations. Every defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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