As part of a sweeping federal crackdown known as Operation Restore Justice, the U.S. Department of Justice has announced the arrests of 205 individuals across the country accused of child sexual abuse offenses. The coordinated five-day enforcement effort led by the FBI resulted in the rescue of 115 child victims and included four arrests in Missouri’s Western District.
Among those charged in Missouri are Clinton Gray of Joplin, Andrew Charles Nicholls of Columbia, Trevor Scott Teegarden of Liberty, and an unnamed fourth individual. Charges range from attempted production of child pornography to receipt and distribution of child sexual abuse material.
The arrests were the result of collaboration between multiple federal and local agencies. Notably, the Southwest Missouri Cyber Crimes Task Force played a key role in assisting investigations, alongside the FBI’s Kansas City Child Exploitation Task Force, the Boone County Sheriff’s Cyber Crime Task Force, the Joplin Police Department, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
Operation Restore Justice was launched in conjunction with the Department’s Project Safe Childhood initiative and followed the observance of National Child Abuse Prevention Month in April. Officials say the operation highlights the critical role of community vigilance and education in identifying abusers and rescuing victims.
Authorities urge the public to report suspected child exploitation by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI or visiting tips.fbi.gov.
