Over 50 predation suspects arrested, 28 children rescued via pornography and online attacks

PLAN (CBSDFW.COM) – An investigation into child pornography and online harassment identified more than 50 suspected predators and, more importantly, saved 28 children from abuse.

More than 30 law enforcement agencies were involved in the investigation. Between January 16 and February 10, these agencies brought together computer crime investigators to focus resources on identifying and rescuing children in communities that have fallen victim to the darkness of online predators.

These investigators teamed up to find victims and apprehend rapists who traded in illegal images and videos of children being forced into sexual acts.

There is one man who makes these investigations his mission in life.

This is the latest collection of men and women that Plano Police Detective Jeff Rich built criminal cases on for child pornography or online harassment of minors.

But every operation in which he takes part evokes the same reaction.

“It’s sad, to be honest, that so many people are exploiting children in our communities,” Rich said.

A veteran detective is as good as they are, extracting data from photos and videos and then tracing them back to their sources.

Operation Janus involved 33 Texas law enforcement agencies he organized.

The result not only sent 58 people to jail, but saved 28 children from situations where they were sexually abused or at risk of sexual abuse.

“We see the worst in society, the darkness in society, and to be able to shine a light on that darkness and save these children, I think it’s extremely important, I can’t imagine any other job,” Rich said.

Rich’s electronic forensics was done nationwide and at Interpol.

He led such investigations for 20 years.

I asked him if this crime, perhaps the most deplorable in society, is more common now than then.

“I’m actually struggling with this issue,” Rich said. “I don’t know if this is becoming the biggest problem, we are doing better. Child-exploiting material is becoming more and more common just because of the ability of people to exchange this information back and forth electronically.”

Rich’s work forces him to look at disgusting images that are impossible to forget.

But he says it is his calling to protect children, and he will soon return to his crime lab, where he says new arrest warrants will be issued in connection with the operation.