FBI Arrests 205 Alleged Child Sex Abuse Offenders in Five-Day Nationwide Crackdown
In an unprecedented nationwide operation to protect our children and mark April’s National Child Abuse Prevention Month, the FBI announces Operation Restore Justice, a five-day, sweeping FBI initiative to identify, track, and arrest child sex predators across the country in coordination with all 55 of our FBI field offices. Last week alone, the FBI arrested 205 subjects and rescued 115 children across the country during the surge of resources deployed for Operation Restore Justice.
The Charlotte Field Office arrested six people as part of this operation across North Carolina.
- John Matthew Miller, of Wilmington, 35, is charged with sex trafficking of a minor; enticing a minor to engage in illegal sexual conduct; and producing, distributing, receiving, and possessing child sexual abuse material. Miller was previously convicted of sexual battery and was a registered sex offender at the time of the offense. Miller faces at least 25 years and up to life in prison if convicted on all counts.
- Jesse Lonzo Teal, of Bolivia, 72, also known as “Lonnie” and “Mark,” is charged with sex trafficking of a minor, enticing a minor to engage in illegal sexual conduct, producing child sexual abuse material, and using the internet to promote an illegal prostitution business enterprise. He faces at least ten years and up to life imprisonment if convicted on all counts.
- William Justin Lewis, of Louisburg, 54, is charged with distributing child sexual abuse material and possessing child sexual abuse material. He faces at least five years in federal prison and up to twenty years on each distribution count and up to twenty years on the possession count.
- Donte Melvin Peek, of Durham, 34, is charged with attempted enticement of a minor, distribution of child sexual abuse material, receipt of child sexual abuse material, and possession of child sexual abuse material. He faces at least 10 years imprisonment and up to life imprisonment on the enticement charge and up to twenty years in federal prison on the possession count, if convicted.
- Jonathan Robert Davlin, of Huntersville, 48, is charged with transportation of child sexual abuse material and possession and access with intent to view child sexual abuse material involving prepubescent minors. He faces at least five years and up to twenty years imprisonment on the transportation count and up to twenty years imprisonment on the possession count.
- Terrell Shawn Anderson, previously of Charlotte, 30, is charged with distributing child sexual abuse material and possession of child sexual abuse material. He faces at least five years in federal prison and up to twenty years on each distribution count and up to twenty years on the possession count. He was arrested by FBI Atlanta.
“Producing and exchanging child sexual abuse material (CSAM) is a sickening reality in our world, and it's not just happening on the dark web. Pedophiles use the same platforms that your family and friends use. No matter where this crime is occurring, the FBI will find you. The Violent Crimes Against Children (VCAC) program is uniquely positioned to work complex global and multijurisdictional crimes against children with the capacity to counter threats of abuse and exploitation of children,” said Robert M. DeWitt, the FBI special agent in charge in North Carolina.
“These important cases reflect the unwavering commitment of our office and our justice system to protect the most vulnerable members of our community—our children. We will continue to work closely with the FBI and our other law enforcement partners to ensure that those who commit such heinous acts are held accountable,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Daniel P. Bubar. “There is no place in our community for those who prey on children, and we will do everything we can to not only seek justice for the victims, but to prevent additional child exploitation crimes.”
“We will aggressively prosecute these cases, as we do all cases against those who seek to exploit and abuse children,” said Russ Ferguson, U.S. attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. “The individuals charged and arrested in this operation are accused of engaging in conduct that harms children and perpetuates their abuse. I commend the FBI in North Carolina and the entire law enforcement community for their ongoing efforts to identify these perpetrators and bring them to justice so they cannot hurt another child.”
“Prosecuting child exploitation crimes remains a top priority for our office,” said Randall S. Galyon, acting U.S. attorney for the Middle District of North Carolina. “With the assistance of the FBI and our other law enforcement partners, we remain steadfast in our commitment to find and punish those who engage in this repugnant activity.”
This initiative during the last week of April 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.
For more information about the national Operation Restore Justice initiative, please visit:
For more information about the violent crimes against children investigated by the FBI, as well as the variety of resources we provide to protect and keep children safe, please visit:
