Over 240 individuals have been arrested and more than 100 children rescued in a month-long sting operation in Dallas, Texas, aimed at combating online child exploitation. The operation, named Operation Soteria Shield, was a collaborative effort involving the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas, the North Texas Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, and the FBI Dallas Division, and began in April.
The operation engaged over 70 Texas law enforcement agencies, with support from the National Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Investigators focused on identifying and arresting those involved in the production, distribution, and possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Authorities reported seizing significant amounts of digital evidence, including terabytes of illicit content, which are currently under forensic analysis. Further arrests and victim identifications are anticipated as the analysis progresses.
Federal sources indicated that the operation has led to multiple grand jury indictments in the Eastern District of Texas for distributing child pornography and the sexual exploitation of minors. Acting U.S. Attorney Jay Combs emphasized the commitment to investigating and prosecuting these crimes to protect children from online threats.
Operation Soteria Shield highlights the effectiveness of interagency cooperation in tackling child exploitation. It stands as one of the largest operations of its kind in Texas in recent years, with assistance from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) in providing intelligence and case coordination.
