Operation Restore Justice
FBI Arrests 205 Alleged Child Sex Abuse Offenders in Five-Day Nationwide Crackdown
BALTIMORE, MD—The Federal Bureau of Investigation has concluded a national surge of resources to arrest accused child sex abuse offenders and combat child exploitation. In a coordinated effort by all 55 FBI field offices called Operation Restore Justice, 205 people were arrested nationwide, and 115 children were rescued across the country during the five-day surge of resources deployed for Operation Restore Justice.
The Baltimore Field Office charged three people as part of this operation, two in Maryland and one in Delaware.
In Maryland, Donald Robert Wilt Edwards, Sr., 29, of West Virginia, was indicted for sexually exploiting a minor. The former Baltimore resident is charged with three counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, three counts of distribution of child sexual abuse material, and one count of possession of child pornography.
Joel Thomas Biermann, 46, of University Park, Maryland, was indicted for multiple child exploitation offenses. Biermann is charged with two counts of producing child sexual abuse material, one count of distributing child sexual abuse material, and one count of possessing child sexual abuse material.
In Delaware, Justin Enright, 51, of Millsboro, Delaware, a felon previously convicted on federal child sexual abuse charges, was arrested for violating the terms of his probation, including intent to view visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct or attempting to do so.
“Every arrest made in these cases delivers justice and sends a clear message that crimes against children will not be tolerated,” says FBI Baltimore Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno. “This operation highlights efforts FBI Baltimore, our Violent Crimes Against Children Task Force, and our dedicated law enforcement partners continually make to protect children from the dangerous and predatory monsters seeking to exploit, harm, and abuse.”
“Operation Restore Justice signifies the Department of Justice and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland’s commitment to ensuring that those who exploit or abuse our children will be found, prosecuted, and brought to justice,” said Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland. “Protecting the most vulnerable members of our community is among our highest priorities, and we will continue to work closely with our community and law enforcement partners to ensure that predators are held accountable. Our office is committed to pursuing justice for every victim.” Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware Shannon T. Hanson stated, “Enright is a repeat child predator, and his conduct underscores the importance of coordinated, nationwide law enforcement efforts such as Operation Restore Justice. Our communities and children are safer thanks to the FBI’s efforts. Collectively, we will continue to send the message that our children deserve to live in a safe environment without fear of harm or abuse and that predators who seek to prey upon our children will be found and held accountable.”
This initiative, taking place between April 28th and May 2nd, was a joint effort with federal, state, and local partners to coincide with the end of Child Abuse Prevention Month and highlight the FBI’s ongoing efforts to confront these crimes. Investigating child sex abuse is an ongoing, high-priority mission of the FBI. The FBI’s Violent Crimes Against Children (VCAC) program coordinates and bolsters efforts to counter all threats of abuse and exploitation of children that fall under FBI jurisdiction—including the production, sharing, and possession of child sexual abuse material; domestical or international travel to engage sexually with children; and the extortion of children to provide sexually explicit material of themselves. VCAC also helps to identify, locate, and recover child victims and strengthen partnerships that are critical to prevent abuse and capture offenders.
The FBI investigates cases through Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Forces (CEHTTFs) located in each field office, allowing the FBI to combine resources with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. The FBI also partners with the nonprofit National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), which receives and shares tips about possible child sexual exploitation received through its 24-hour hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST and on missingkids.org.
In 2004, the FBI created the Endangered Child Alert Program (ECAP) to identify individuals involved in the sexual abuse of children and the production of child sexual abuse material. The program is a collaborative effort between the FBI and the NCMEC.
The FBI also offers resources for parents and caregivers to stay engaged with their children’s online and offline activities. The FBI’s Safe Online Surfing (SOS) program teaches students in grades 3 to 8 how to navigate the web safely.
To submit a tip about the potential exploitation of a child, call 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324), visit tips.fbi.gov, or call your local FBI field office.
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