DOJ Takes Down 2,300 Alleged Child Sex Abusers in Massive National Operation

By The Daily Caller. Law enforcement arrested more than 2,300 accused child sex offenders and identified 383 children who have been victims of sex abuse, the Department of Justice announced Tuesday.

Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task forces made the arrests nationwide between March and May in a sweep dubbed Operation Broken Heart, identifying an additional 195 offenders who produced child pornography or committed child sex abuse, according to the DOJ. The 383 children were allegedly either forced to participate in the production of child pornography or had suffered recent, ongoing or past sexual abuse. . .

The 61 ICAC task force investigated more than 25,000 complaints of sexual abuse and targeted alleged sex offenders in four categories. First, those who produce, trade or possess child pornography; second, anyone who enticed children online for sexual purposes; third, those who engaged in child sex trafficking and finally, those who traveled internationally or across state lines to sexually abuse children. (Read more from “DOJ Takes Down 2,300 Alleged Child Sex Abusers in Massive National Operation” HERE)

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More Than 2,300 Suspected Online Child Sex Offenders Arrested During Operation “Broken Heart”

By Department of Justice. The Department of Justice today announced the arrest of more than 2,300 suspected online child sex offenders during a three-month, nationwide, operation conducted by Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task forces. The task forces identified 195 offenders who either produced child pornography or committed child sexual abuse, and 383 children who suffered recent, ongoing, or historical sexual abuse or production of child pornography. . .

“No child should ever have to endure sexual abuse,” Attorney General Jeff Sessions said. “And yet, in recent years, certain forms of modern technology have facilitated the spread of child pornography and created greater incentives for its production. We at the Department of Justice are determined to strike back against these repugnant crimes. It is shocking and very sad that in this one operation, we have arrested more than 2,300 alleged child predators and investigated some 25,200 sexual abuse complaints. Any would-be criminal should be warned: this Department will remain relentless in hunting down those who victimize our children.” . . .

The ICAC Program is funded through the Department’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP). In 1998, OJJDP launched the ICAC Task Force Program to help federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies enhance their investigative responses to offenders who use the Internet, online communication systems or computer technology to exploit children. To date, ICAC Task Forces have reviewed more than 775,000 complaints of child exploitation, which resulted in the arrest of more than 83,000 individuals. In addition, since the ICAC program’s inception, more than 629,400 law enforcement officers, prosecutors and other professionals have been trained on techniques to investigate and prosecute ICAC-related cases. (Read more from “More Than 2,300 Suspected Online Child Sex Offenders Arrested During Operation “Broken Heart” HERE)

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