Operation Soteria Shield
| Operation Soteria Shield | |
|---|---|
| Roster | |
| Planned by | Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and National Center for Missing & Exploited Children |
| Executed by | Federal Bureau of Investigation and police agencies |
| Mission | |
| Target | Child pornography possers, distributers, and manufactures |
| Method | Arrests |
| Results | |
| Suspects | 244 |
| Arrests | 244 |
Operation Soteria Shield was a large-scale law enforcement operation which was conducted in April 2025, resulting in the arrest of 244 suspects and the rescue of 109 children from online sexual exploitation and attacks.[1] The operation involved over 70 state law enforcement agencies, including the Dallas, Plano, Wylie, and Garland police departments, as well as the Federal Bureau of Investigation Dallas Division, North Texas Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, whose analysts provided intelligence and case coordination.[2][3] The effort was aimed at identifying and prosecuting individuals involved in the production, distribution, and possession of child sexual abuse material.[4]
Operation
[edit]The operation was described as a "massive team effort" and highlighted the importance of interagency collaboration in protecting children and holding offenders accountable.[5] On April 2025 authorities arrested 244 suspects and, in addition to the arrests, investigators seized 1,130 digital devices and 213 terabytes of data containing illicit material.[6] The FBI and law enforcement partners stated that the operation was necessary to combat this "insidious crime" and to ensure that those who exploit children are held accountable.[7] According to Plano Police Department Assistant Chief, Dan Curtis, many of the children recognized or rescued were previously unidentified and they'd never been reported missing with their abuse known to authorities.[8]
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas also participated in the operation, which led to the indictment of individuals for distributing child pornography and sexually exploiting children to produce child sexual abuse material.[9]
References
[edit]- ^ Cobb, Timia (2025-06-10). "Dallas FBI task force snares 244 suspects during child sexual exploitation sting". The Dallas Morning News. ISSN 1553-846X. OCLC 1035116631. Retrieved 2025-06-11.
- ^ Sawyers, Ben (2025-06-10). "Statewide operation cracks down on child exploitation". WFAA. Retrieved 2025-06-12.
- ^ Rooney, Caitlyn (2025-06-11). "Lubbock suspects part of 244 arrested in child exploitation operation". KLBK-TV. Retrieved 2025-06-11.
- ^ "FBI Dallas and the North Texas Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Announce the Results of Operation Soteria Shield". Federal Bureau of Investigation. Retrieved 2025-06-11.
- ^ "FBI Dallas Operation Soteria Shield News Conference". Yahoo! News. 2025-06-10. Retrieved 2025-06-12.
- ^ Beausoleil, Sophia (2025-06-10). "Joint task force led by Dallas FBI makes 200 arrests in 'Operation Soteria Shield'". KXAS-TV. Retrieved 2025-06-11.
- ^ Kite, Amber (2025-06-10). "244 charged with child sex crimes in North Texas operation". KDFW. Retrieved 2025-06-12.
- ^ Miles, J. D. (2025-06-11). "109 children rescued, 244 arrested in Operation Soteria Shield, exposing widespread child exploitation in North Texas - CBS Texas". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved 2025-06-12.
- ^ "FBI Dallas and North Texas Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force announce results of Operation Soteria Shield in the Eastern District of Texas". United States Department of Justice. 2025-06-10. Retrieved 2025-06-12.