Crime & Safety
Child Exploitation Task Force Arrests 18 In Inland Empire Raid
Multiple people caught in the Inland Regional Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force raid are already convicted sex offenders.
MURRIETA, CA — A multi-agency task force executed a series of raids across Riverside and San Bernardino counties targeting sex offenders exploiting children, the FBI announced Thursday.
The Inland Regional Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force arrested 18 people, including a number of registered sex offenders on child exploitation charges, weapons and drug charges.
"Minor victims were identified and additional intelligence was gathered on how these offenders use technology to exploit children," the FBI said in a written statement. "In addition to state charges, many may be subject to federal charges as this investigation continues."
Over the past week, the FBI and law enforcement partners such as the Riverside County Sheriff's Department, the Riverside County District Attorney's Office, and the Murrieta Police Department executed Operation “Inland Regional Roundup,” the FBI Los Angeles Field Office Assistant Director Kristi Johnson said.
The focus of the operation was to coordinate efforts to combat violent crimes against children, she said.
Subjects of these investigations live in both Riverside and San Bernardino Counties and are believed to be exploiting children by producing child sexual abuse material through sextortion or coercion, or continuing the abuse by distributing child sexual abuse material, according to the FBI.
"The Inland Regional task force fosters a victim-centered approach and prosecutes at both the state and federal levels," the FBI said. "The collective goal of the Inland Regional Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force is to enhance the effectiveness of law enforcement resources through well-coordinated, deliberate efforts seeking the most effective investigative and prosecutorial avenues to convict and incarcerate dangerous offenders."
Patch has reached out for a full list of the 18 people arrested in this sweep. Inland Empire cities involved include San Bernardino, Fontana, Riverside, Ontario, Rialto, Upland, Menifee and Murrieta.
The following departments were involved in the operation.
- San Bernardino Police Department
- Fontana Police Department
- Riverside County District Attorney's Office
- Riverside Police Department
- Ontario Police Department
- San Bernardino Sheriff's Office
- Rialto Police Department
- Upland Police Department
- Riverside Sheriff's Office
- Menifee Police Department
- California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
- Desert Hot Springs Police Department
- Murrieta Police Department.
- Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department
- San Diego District Attorney’s Office
- Colton Police Department
- United States Attorney’s Office, Central District of California
Additional information about developments resulting from this operation will be provided in the near future.
