The Department of Justice announced the results of Operation Relentless Justice, a nationwide effort to identify and apprehend child sexual abuse offenders. The coordinated crackdown, executed over two weeks, involved all 56 FBI field offices, the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, and U.S. Attorneys’ offices across the country. The operation resulted in the rescue of more than 205 child victims and the arrest of over 293 alleged offenders.
Attorney General Pamela Bondi emphasized the importance of the effort: “We will not allow evil criminals who prey on children to evade justice. Our federal agents have worked tirelessly alongside state and local partners, and now prosecutors will ensure these offenders face severe consequences for their horrific crimes.”
FBI Director Kash Patel highlighted the nationwide scope, noting that the FBI has led multiple operations this year to identify and remove predators from communities. “No child will be forgotten, and all predators targeting the most vulnerable will be held accountable,” Patel said.
In the Northern District of Texas, five individuals were arrested and charged, including Ruben Reyes Tijerina III of Levelland for production of child pornography, James Childress of Chicago for attempted enticement of a minor and multiple child pornography offenses, Marcus and Maddie Anguiano of Lubbock for conspiracy and production of child pornography, and Kai Isaiah Ranaglia-Nelson of Abilene for producing child pornography as a registered sex offender. Sentences for the charges range from 10 years to life in federal prison.
The operation also involved high-profile arrests nationwide, including a Lubbock airman and his wife for producing child sexual abuse material, a Raleigh police officer distributing material to an undercover agent, and a Guatemalan national previously deported from the U.S.
These efforts follow two earlier operations in 2025—Operation Restore Justice and Operation Enduring Justice—which collectively rescued hundreds of children and led to hundreds of arrests. The FBI’s Victim Services Division provided critical support, including forensic interviews and access to medical and mental health services.
The DOJ stressed that these operations are part of Project Safe Childhood, a long-running initiative to combat child exploitation via the internet, and encouraged the public to report suspected abuse through the FBI tipline, 1-800-CALL-FBI, or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST.
