Sacramento, CA…The Federal Bureau of Investigation has concluded a national surge of resources to arrest accused child sex abuse offenders and combat child exploitation. In a coordinated effort by all 55 FBI field offices called Operation Restore Justice, 205 people were arrested nationwide.

The FBI Sacramento Field Office arrested four individuals on federal charges as part of this operation. Charges include sexual exploitation of a child and receipt and distribution of child pornography. Eleven additional arrests on state charges resulted from an undercover operation in collaboration with the Bakersfield Police Department Vice Unit to combat human trafficking and solicitation of prostitution in the city of Bakersfield.

“No child should ever have to suffer at the hands of a predator,” said Special Agent in Charge Sid Patel of the FBI Sacramento Field Office. “The FBI is committed to breaking the cycle of abuse and ensuring those who exploit children are brought to justice. We work closely with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to identify these offenders and to protect the most vulnerable members of our communities.”

This initiative between April 28th and May 1, was a joint effort with federal, state and local partners to coincide with the end of Child Abuse Prevention Month and highlight the FBI’s ongoing efforts to confront these crimes. Investigating child sex abuse is an ongoing, high-priority mission of the FBI. The FBI’s Violent Crimes Against Children (VCAC) program coordinates and bolsters efforts to counter all threats of abuse and exploitation of children that fall under FBI jurisdiction—including the production, sharing, and possession of child sexual abuse material; domestical or international travel to engage sexually with children; and the extortion of children to provide sexually explicit material of themselves. VCAC also helps to identify, locate, and recover child victims, and strengthen partnerships that are critical to prevent abuse and capture offenders.

The FBI investigates cases through Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Forces (CEHTTFs) located in each field office, allowing the FBI to combine resources with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. The FBI also partners with the nonprofit National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), which receives and shares tips about possible child sexual exploitation received through its 24-hour hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST and on missingkids.org.

In 2004, the FBI created the Endangered Child Alert Program (ECAP) to identify individuals involved in the sexual abuse of children and the production of child sexual abuse material. The program is a collaborative effort between the FBI and the NCMEC.

The FBI also offers resources for parents and caregivers to stay engaged with their children’s online and offline activities. The FBI’s Safe Online Surfing (SOS) program teaches students in grades 3 to 8 how to navigate the web safely.

To submit a tip about the potential exploitation of a child, call 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324), visit tips.fbi.gov, or call 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

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