DOJ Announces Results of “Operation Relentless Justice,” 293 Arrested Nationwide

Northeast Radio SD News – Sioux Falls, SD - The Department of Justice has announced the results of “Operation Relentless Justice,” a major coordinated enforcement effort that led to the arrests of 293 child sexual abuse offenders and the location of more than 205 child victims across the country.

The two-week crackdown involved all 56 FBI field offices, the Justice Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), and U.S. Attorneys’ offices nationwide. The operation targeted individuals involved in the production, distribution, and possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), as well as child sex trafficking and online enticement.

In South Dakota, federal authorities highlighted the case of Donovan He Crow, a resident of the Pine Ridge Reservation. He Crow is the subject of a superseding indictment and is alleged to be a repeat sex offender. His most recent allegations include Abusive Sexual Contact with a child. If convicted, He Crow faces a mandatory minimum sentence of life in federal prison.

“Operation Relentless Justice demonstrates the power of coordinated federal, state, tribal, and local law enforcement working together to safeguard children,” said U.S. Attorney Ron Parsons for the District of South Dakota. “We’re grateful for this expansive effort to sweep up these worst of the worst child sex abuse offenders.”

Nationwide, the operation resulted in several high-profile arrests, including:

·        A police officer in Raleigh, North Carolina, is accused of distributing CSAM and expressing interest in sexual contact with children.

·        An airman and his wife in Dallas, Texas, were arrested for the production of CSAM.

·        The five leaders of an online group known as “Greggy’s Cult,” which targeted vulnerable children through sextortion.

·        A Virginia man accused of persuading a 14-year-old to produce CSAM; the victim reportedly attempted suicide following the exploitation.

FBI Director Kash Patel emphasized that the bureau has led multiple nationwide surges this year to combat exploitation. “We will not stop until every child can live a life free of exploitation,” Patel stated.

The FBI’s Victim Services Division provided support to the victims located during the operation, offering forensic interviews and referrals for medical and mental health resources. These efforts are part of Project Safe Childhood, a DOJ initiative launched in 2006 to marshal resources against the internet-based exploitation of minors.

Authorities remind the public that an indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.