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A horrifying network of child predators has been smashed by police across Southern California – with 341 alleged pedophiles arrested and at least 40 children rescued in a massive two-week sting.
The sweeping operation, dubbed “Operation Firewall,” targeted offenders across five counties between April 19 and May 3, authorities revealed.
The suspects are accused of crimes including the production, distribution and possession of child sexual abuse material, lewd acts with minors, human trafficking, and attempting to lure children into sex acts.
In one case, a 42-year-old man from the Inland Empire allegedly posed as a teenage football player on Instagram to groom two girls into a sexual relationship.
US Attorney Bill Essaylisaid the suspect faces federal sex abuse charges – and issued a confronting warning to parents about online chatrooms targeting children.
“I’ve said it once, I’ll say it again –keep your kids off the internet,” he said.
Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochmandetailed another disturbing case involving a 33-year-old man accused of selling videos of himself engaging in sexual acts with adults while watching children being sexually abused.
“Some of the children were as young as one-year-old,” Hochman said, adding the suspect faces decades behind bars.
Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell said the scale of the crimes reflects a growing surge in online exploitation.
Source: California Post – Breaking California News, Photos & Videos
