Federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, prosecutors and advocacy groups completed a month-long collaborative enforcement effort aimed at rescuing children from online sexual exploitation and bringing perpetrators to justice.
FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock said Operation Soteria Shield, conducted in April, involved more than 70 law enforcement agencies and resulted in the rescue of 109 children and the arrest of 244 offenders.
Investigators also seized extensive volumes of digital evidence, including terabytes of illicit data stored on electronic devices that were used in the commission of these crimes, he said.
These devices are undergoing forensic analysis and may lead to further arrests and the identification of additional victims, Rothrock said.
Soteria is a Greek word meaning salvation, deliverance or preservation from harm, so the name of the operation could be interpreted as “shield of salvation” or “protective deliverance.”
Among others, the operation involved the North Texas Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, FBI Dallas’s North Texas Child Exploitation Task Force along with the Collin County Sheriff’s Office, District Attorney’s Office and police departments including Sachse and Wylie.
Sgt. Jessica Pond, the sheriff’s public information officer, said, “In addition to supporting federal-led efforts, the Collin County Sheriff’s Office will continue conducting our own operations locally as part of our ongoing commitment to protecting children in our communities.”
Wylie Police Chief Anthony Henderson said, “The coordinated efforts of all agencies involved in Operation Soteria Shield serve as a powerful demonstration of unwavering dedication in the battle against online child exploitation By exposing the darkest corners of the Internet, this operation has targeted predators who seek to harm vulnerable children.”
According to Rothrock, “This was not an easy operation, but a necessary one. The FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue to protect the children in our communities, and we will hold child predators accountable for their crimes.”
He also said the participating agencies extended their gratitude to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children for vital intelligence and case coordination.
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