265 Child Predators Arrested in Massive California Sting Operation [WATCH]

More than 250 individuals have been arrested across Southern California following a massive joint law enforcement operation targeting alleged child predators.

Authorities confirmed this week that the operation, dubbed Operation Spring Cleaning, was conducted over a two-week period last month and led by the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), with assistance from agencies in Orange, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara, and Ventura counties.

LAPD News: Operation Spring Cleaning pic.twitter.com/iF8ZMOUXGu

— LAPD PIO (@LAPDPIO) May 21, 2025

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In a press conference held Wednesday, LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell announced the arrest of 265 suspects.

Many of those arrested, he said, held “positions of trust within their communities,” granting them direct or indirect access to children.

“The goal was to identify and arrest predators who were using the internet to sexually exploit children and to rescue young victims from abuse,” McDonnell stated.

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The operation was executed in two phases. In the first phase, undercover law enforcement personnel posed as minors or as adults with minors on various social media platforms, engaging with suspects who were attempting to make illicit contact.

Once enough evidence was gathered, officers moved into the second phase, which involved serving search warrants and taking suspects into custody.

In addition to the arrests, authorities provided internet safety training to approximately 1,000 parents, aiming to educate families on how to protect children from online exploitation.

During the course of the operation, 27 children were rescued from situations involving abuse or potential trafficking.

“These aren’t just numbers,” McDonnell emphasized.

“These are lives saved, futures restored and predators removed from our neighborhoods.”

Charges brought against the suspects include possession, distribution, and production of child sexual abuse material, as well as lewd and lascivious acts with a minor under 14 years of age, human trafficking, and attempts to contact or lure a minor for sexual activity.

Officials from all participating counties praised the coordinated effort, crediting cross-agency cooperation as a key factor in the success of the sting.

The multi-county operation marks one of the largest regional child exploitation crackdowns in recent history.

Authorities have not yet released the names of those arrested, as many of the investigations remain ongoing.

Prosecutors in each county are now reviewing cases for formal charges.

Law enforcement leaders reiterated the importance of proactive policing and public vigilance in combatting online child exploitation.

They encouraged parents and guardians to monitor their children’s internet use and to report suspicious activity to local authorities.

The operation reflects an increasing focus on cybercrime units and inter-agency task forces aimed at tracking and apprehending individuals who use digital platforms to target minors.

Officials confirmed that similar operations are being planned in other regions in the coming months.

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