A month-long, statewide enforcement effort in April 2025, dubbed "Operation Soteria Shield," successfully rescued 109 children and led to the arrest of 244 offenders involved in online sexual exploitation. The collaborative operation was spearheaded by the North Texas Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force and FBI Dallas’s North Texas Child Exploitation Task Force, with joint management by the FBI Dallas Division, Dallas Police Department, Plano Police Department, Wylie Police Department, and Garland Police Department.
More than 70 Texas law enforcement agencies joined forces throughout April, dedicating highly skilled computer crimes investigators to identify victims and apprehend individuals engaged in the production, distribution, and possession of child sexual abuse material.
Beyond the arrests and rescues, investigators seized extensive volumes of digital evidence, including terabytes of illicit data from electronic devices used in the commission of these crimes. These devices are currently undergoing forensic analysis, which may lead to further arrests and the identification of additional victims.
FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock praised the collaborative spirit: "Operation Soteria Shield brought together over 70 agencies from across the state of Texas... We had a common goal, which was to rescue children from abuse and exploitation. 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.”
Dallas Police Chief Daniel C. Comeaux emphasized the unified mission: "Operation Soteria Shield was a massive team effort and a powerful reminder of what we can accomplish when we unite around one clear mission: protecting our kids and holding offenders accountable.” Plano Police Chief Ed Drain highlighted the pervasive nature of online exploitation and the operation's clear message: "those who seek to harm our children online will be found and brought to justice.” Wylie Police Chief Anthony Henderson reiterated the dedication to combating online child exploitation, stating, "With every arrest made and every child protected, the operation moves us closer to a safer community." Garland Police Chief Jeff Bryan expressed pride in the collaborative effort, saying, "Operation Soteria Shield was more than an enforcement effort; it was a mission to rescue, protect, and restore hope."
The participating agencies also extended gratitude to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) for their crucial support and vital intelligence.
Operation Soteria Shield stands as a powerful example of successful interagency cooperation, reflecting a shared commitment among Texas law enforcement professionals to relentlessly pursue child predators and support survivors.
List of Participating Agencies:
Abilene Police Department, Allen Police Department, Alvarado Police Department, Amarillo Police Department, Arlington Police Department, Army Criminal Investigative Division, Aubrey Police Department, Azle Police Department, Bartonville Police Department, Breckenridge Police Department, Cedar Hill Police Department, Children’s Advocacy Center of Collin County, Cleburne Police Department, Colleyville Police Department, Collin County District Attorney’s Office, Collin County Sheriff’s Office, Cooke County Sheriff’s Office, Crowley Police Department, Dalhart Police Department, Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center, Dallas Police Department, Dawson County Sheriff’s Office, Denton County Sheriff’s Office, DeSoto Police Department, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas, Ellis County Sheriff’s Office, Elm Ridge Police Department, Ennis Police Department, Euless Police Department, Fannin County Sheriff’s Office, Fate Police Department, FBI Dallas Field Office, FBI El Paso Field Office, FBI San Antonio Field Office, Fort Worth Police Department, Frisco Police Department, Garland Police Department, Grand Prairie Police Department, Grand Saline Police Department, Grayson County Sheriff’s Office, Gregg County Sheriff’s Office, Haltom City Police Department, Harrison County Sheriff’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations, Honey Grove Police Department, Hopkins County Sheriff’s Department, Hurst Police Department, Irving Police Department, Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, Joshua Police Department, Kaufman County Sheriff’s Office, Kaufman Police Department, Lamesa Police Department, Lone Star Police Department, Lubbock Police Department, McKinney Police Department, Midlothian Police Department, National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, North Richland Hills Police Department, Office of Inspector General, Plano Police Department, Prosper Police Department, Richardson Police Department, Richardson Police Department SWAT, Rockwall County District Attorney’s Office, Rockwall County Sheriff’s Office, Rockwall Police Department, Rowlett Police Department, Royse City Police Department, Sachse Police Department, San Antonio Police Department, Snyder Police Department, Tarrant County Human Trafficking Task Force, Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office, Terrell Police Department, Texas Department of Public Safety, University of Texas System Police, White Settlement Police Department, Wilmer Police Department, and Wylie Police Department.
