Operation Restore Justice: 205 Arrested, 115 Children Rescued in Nationwide Crackdown

ALBUQUERQUE – In a coordinated effort to identify, track, and arrest child sex predators, the FBI and its state and local partners executed Operation Restore Justice over the course of five days. The nationwide crackdown resulted in the rescue of 115 children and the arrests of 205 child sexual abuse offenders.

The operation, which was executed by all 55 FBI field offices, the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, and United States Attorney’s Offices around the country, sent a clear message to child predators: there is no place to hide.

"The Attorney General will never stop fighting to protect victims – especially child victims – and we will not rest until we hunt down, arrest, and prosecute every child predator who preys on the most vulnerable among us," said Attorney General Pamela Bondi.

According to authorities, the following individuals are now facing charges in the District of New Mexico:

Noah John Carney, 31, is accused of coercing a minor to engage in sexual activity between July and August of 2024. Carney was previously convicted of attempted coercion and enticement in 2014 and was sentenced to 10 years in prison. He was serving an 18-month term of supervised release at the time of this offense.

Carl Weatherman, 42, is accused of possessing child sexual abuse material which was found at his home during a search warrant last year. Weatherman was previously convicted of receipt of visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct in 2016 and sentenced to 75 months in prison. He was serving a 10-year term of supervised release at the time of the current offense.

Others arrested around the country are alleged to have committed various crimes including the production, distribution, and possession of child sexual abuse material, online enticement and transportation of minors, and child sex trafficking. In Minneapolis, a state trooper and Army Reservist was arrested for allegedly producing child sexual abuse material while wearing his uniforms. In Norfolk, VA, an illegal alien from Mexico is accused of transporting a minor across state lines for sex. In Washington, D.C., a former Metropolitan Police Department Police Officer was arrested for allegedly trafficking minor victims.

According to authorities, in many cases, parental vigilance and community outreach efforts played a critical role in bringing these offenders to justice. For example, a California man was arrested about eight hours after a young victim bravely came forward and disclosed their abuse to FBI agents after an online safety seminar.

The FBI will continue to prioritize these investigations and support its partners in pursuing offenders to the fullest extent of the law, said Philip Russell Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Division.

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