A two-month FBI-led operation in Texas rescued 89 children and led to 276 child exploitation arrests, federal officials announced Friday.
Operation Soteria Shield targeted suspects accused of exploiting children through online platforms, social media, messaging apps, and other digital spaces, according to the FBI Dallas Division.
The operation, conducted in March and April, brought together 91 law enforcement agencies and 197 law enforcement personnel across Texas.
Investigators pursued cases involving the possession, distribution, production, or promotion of child sexual abuse material, online solicitation of minors, trafficking, sexual assault, and other child exploitation-related offenses, according to the FBI.
The operation was jointly managed by FBI Dallas, the Dallas Police Department, the Plano Police Department, the Wylie Police Department, and the Garland Police Department.
OPERATION SOTERIA SHIELD:
2 month FBI op with 91 federal + state and local Texas partners – 276 subjects arrested and 89 children rescued.
This FBI set records last year crushing child abusers – 2,900 predators and abusers arrested, up 70%, and 7,000 child victims rescued, up… pic.twitter.com/0McafuyeSQ
— FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) May 29, 2026
FBI Director Kash Patel highlighted the results on X, writing, “2 month FBI op with 91 federal + state and local Texas partners – 276 subjects arrested and 89 children rescued.”
“If anyone thought we’re slowing down – think again,” Patel wrote.
Texas Agencies Target Online Exploitation
FBI Dallas said investigators worked to identify offenders, locate children being exploited, identify previously unknown victims, and connect children and families with services.
The FBI said the cases remain active and investigators may file additional charges as forensic examinations and follow-up investigations continue.
“Operation Soteria Shield brought together over 90 agencies from across the state of Texas,” FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock said in the FBI release. “Together, we were able to make a significant impact in the ongoing battle against predators who exploit children in our communities. This would not have been successful without the resolve of each participating agency. The FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue to prioritize the safety of the most vulnerable members of our communities.”
Dallas Police Chief Daniel C. Comeaux said the operation showed what agencies can accomplish when they work together to protect children.
“Protecting children from those who seek to exploit them is among the most important work we do in law enforcement,” Comeaux said. “The success of Operation Soteria Shield reflects what is possible when agencies come together with a shared mission to identify predators, rescue victims, and hold offenders accountable. These are not victimless crimes; they leave lasting trauma on children and families. I am incredibly proud of the work of our investigators and every agency partner who helped make this operation successful. The Dallas Police Department remains relentless in pursuing those who prey on our most vulnerable, and we will continue working with our local, state, and federal partners to protect children and bring offenders to justice.”
Prior Warnings Focused On Children Online
The latest sweep comes as federal officials continue warning parents about people targeting children through online platforms.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, FBI Dallas warned parents, guardians, and teachers earlier this month about violent “764” networks that target children through gaming apps and social media, build trust by posing as friends, and then allegedly coerce victims through blackmail, threats, explicit material, or violence.
That warning came from Rothrock, who said FBI Dallas was “aggressively investigating violent online network members and working with prosecutors to hold these criminals accountable.”
The new operation also follows the 2025 Operation Soteria Shield effort, which resulted in 109 children rescued and 244 suspects arrested across Texas, as previously reported by The Dallas Express.
FBI Urges Parents To Report Suspicious Activity
Federal officials said online child exploitation often begins with seemingly ordinary digital contact.
Anyone with information about child exploitation can contact local law enforcement, call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI, submit a tip at tips.fbi.gov, or report online exploitation to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at cybertipline.org.
