200+ alleged child predators arrested in FBI operation, officials say

Authorities arrested more than 200 suspected child predators in a five-day, multiagency operation centered on online contact with minors last week, federal officials announced Wednesday.

"These depraved human beings, if convicted, will face the maximum penalty in prison — some life," Attorney General Pam Bondi said during a news conference.

Because of the 205 arrests, Bondi said, 115 children across the U.S. were rescued from online predators. Charges include online enticement, child sex trafficking and the production, distribution and possession of child sexual abuse material, per a news release.

The investigation, dubbed "Operation Restore Justice," was a joint effort of 55 FBI field offices and more than 90 U.S. Attorneys Offices across the country, the release said.

FBI director Kash Patel noted during the news conference that arrests included several "people in places of public trust," and called out suspects who were "teachers, law enforcement personnel and other professionals that we look to safeguard our children."

Minnesota State Trooper Jeremy Francis Plonski, who Patel named among those arrested in the operation, faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted on the charge of production of child pornography.

Patel also pointed out Jose Alexis Valdez Sosa, a Mexican migrant who was in the country illegally, was arrested in Virginia and charged with transporting a minor across state lines; and Linwood Barnhill, a former D.C. police officer and registered sex offender, who faces charges related to sex trafficking children by force.

"These are just three examples that show you the extent and the depravity of these horrific crimes, and we need to team up together with the American public to find the rest," Patel said.

Bondi and Patel did not take questions from reporters after their announcement.

Bondi urged parents to thoroughly monitor their children's online activities to ensure their safety.

"Your child has no right to privacy on the internet — none," she said. "You have to monitor what your kids are doing, whether they're playing games on the Internet, on social media or on any other websites that children and teenagers frequent, an online predator can find them."

"I always say, it's from instant message to instant nightmare," she added.