PHOENIX — A national FBI effort led to the arrests of six Arizonans suspected of child sex crimes, authorities announced Wednesday.
The suspects were part of the Operation Restore Justice initiative, which was a national effort to crack down on child sex abuse offenders, according to a Phoenix Field Office FBI release.
Details on six Arizonans suspected of child sex crimes
One of the six Arizona suspects was a Tucson resident accused of distributing child sexual abuse material. Authorities executing a search warrant on the suspect’s home found cocaine and automatic weapons, according to the FBI.
Here are details about the other five suspects:
- A Sells, Arizona man allegedly recorded and took pictures of his girlfriend’s underaged daughter while she was asleep.
- A Clarkdale, Arizona resident allegedly enticed multiple children online and was charged with the production of child pornography.
- A Phoenix resident was charged with production and possession of child pornography.
- A Salt River Indian Reservation resident allegedly sexually abused a minor and was charged with the production of child pornography.
- A Navajo Nation suspect was charged of aggravated sexual abuse of a child.
More on national FBI child sex crimes crackdown
Arizona wasn’t the only state participating in Operation Restore Justice.
FBI field offices across the country joined with state and local partners to arrest 205 suspected offenders.
During the operation, agents rescued 115 children, according to authorities.
Last month, the FBI stationed 11 agents in Arizona as part of a program focusing on unsolved violent crimes in Native American communities.
“Every arrest in these child sexual abuse cases not only delivers justice—it sends a powerful message: crimes against children will not be tolerated,” FBI Phoenix special agent in charge Jose A. Perez said in a release.
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