27 Missing Children Rescued In Virginia Sweep: U.S. Marshals

VIRGINIA — The U.S. Marshals Service rescued 27 children in Virginia through a five-day law enforcement operation called Operation Find Our Children.

Aside with the recovery of missing children, U.S. Marshals Service found six additional children who were previously reported missing but were determined to be in custody of their legal guardian.

Thomas L. Foster, U.S. marshal for the Western District of Virginia, said in a news release that many of the kids were recovered in Virginia's population centers. The recoveries included seven in the Western District of Virginia, including Roanoke and Abingdon.

"I am proud of the Deputy Marshals in the Eastern and Western Districts of Virginia and their partners for the work they accomplished this week – and the results speak for themselves; these 27 children are safe once again," said Nick E. Proffitt, U.S. marshal for the Eastern District of Virginia. "I am deeply humbled and highly honored that our team in Eastern Virginia is a continuing part of this critical Marshals Service mission. We want the missing children across this great nation to know the U.S. Marshals Service will never stop looking for you, we will find you."

More than 60 law enforcement investigators were part of the primary team led by deputy U.S. Marshals from the Eastern and Western Districts of Virginia. Over 50 employees from the Virginia Department of Social Services and a team of medical professionals and experts from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children also took part in the effort.

"Missing children are extremely vulnerable to being trafficked for sex and are at risk of further emotional and physical harm," said John F. Clark, president and CEO of the Alexandria-based National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. "Because of this operation, 27 children have been found and are now safe."

Operation Find Our Children was completed with help from the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Eastern and Western Districts of Virginia, FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, U.S. Treasury Office of Inspector General, Metro Transit Police Department, Virginia State Police and Virginia Department of Corrections.

Local law enforcement that helped included the Alexandria Sheriff’s Office, Chesterfield County Police Department and Sheriff’s Office, Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office, Hampton Police Department, Henrico County Police Department, Norfolk Police Department, Prince William County Police Department, Portsmouth Police Department, Richmond City Police Department, Roanoke City Police Department, Virginia Beach Police Department.

The U.S. Marshals Service has recovered more than 2,000 missing children since 2005.

"While this Virginia operation is the most recent recovery of endangered and missing children led by the U.S. Marshals Service this year, we have also recovered more than 440 kids in Georgia, Ohio, Indiana, Louisiana and other states," said Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey A. Rosen. "Because of this initiative, the recovered children are now out of harm’s way."