Justice Department Announces Results of Operation Restore Justice: 205 Child Sex Abuse Offenders Arrested in FBI-led Nationwide Crackdown, including 5 in the District Of New Jersey

NEWARK, NJ – On May 7, 2025, 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 in the Department’s Criminal Division, and United States Attorney’s Offices around the country.

“The success of Operation Restore Justice shows the Department of Justice’s unwavering dedication to finding and prosecuting child predators. I will apply the full power of my office to bring these criminals to justice and ensure the safety of every child.  Through coordination among federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, we deploy all resources to pursue justice and take decisive action against anyone who exploits the most vulnerable members of our community.”

- U.S. Attorney Alina Habba

“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.”

“This week was a snapshot of the never-ending work our agents and TFOs do day in and day out to apprehend and hold accountable the vilest of criminals,” says Acting Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly. “Though this marks the conclusion of Child Abuse Awareness Month, our mission is omnipresent: to protect vulnerable children from these predators by bringing them to justice. Let this be a continued reminder to guardians of children everywhere, to stay present and vigilant in your young one’s lives. FBI Newark would like to thank the tireless work of our partner agencies; together we will continue to weed these monsters out of society.”

This initiative was a joint effort with federal, state and local partners to coincide with the end of Child Abuse Prevention Month between and highlight the FBI’s ongoing efforts to confront these crimes. Investigating child sex abuse is an ongoing, high-priority mission of the FBI. Agents and task force officers made the following five arrests in New Jersey from April 28 and May 2, 2025:

• David Tuytjens, age 69, was arrested for possession of child pornography.
• Natasha Rivas, age 23, was arrested for distribution of child pornography.
• Dwayne Smalls Jr., age 24, was arrested for distribution of child pornography.
• Elliott Souder, age 52, was charged with receipt and possession of child pornography.
• Keshawn Harley, age 38, was charged with possession and production of child pornography, and sex trafficking of a minor.

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, VA, 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. 

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 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.

Other online resources:

Electronic Press Kit

Violent Crimes Against Children

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

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

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