Nationwide Operation Nets 205 Child Sex Abuse Arrests, Including Five in New Jersey

FBI-led Operation Restore Justice rescues 115 children and charges five individuals in New Jersey, including Paterson man already facing sex trafficking allegations.

The U.S. Department of Justice has announced the results of Operation Restore Justice, a coordinated, nationwide crackdown on child sexual exploitation that led to 205 arrests and the rescue of 115 children. The five-day enforcement effort, carried out between April 28 and May 2, 2025, involved all 55 FBI field offices and targeted child sex offenders across the country. Five individuals were arrested in New Jersey.

Among those arrested in New Jersey was Keshawn Harley, 38, of Paterson, who was already facing federal charges for the production and possession of child pornography and sex trafficking of a minor. Harley allegedly hosted “after-hours” parties at private residences in Paterson where minors were engaged in commercial sex acts.

“This week was a snapshot of the never-ending work our agents and TFOs do day in and day out to apprehend and hold accountable the vilest of criminals,” says Acting Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly. “Though this marks the conclusion of Child Abuse Awareness Month, our mission is omnipresent: to protect vulnerable children from these predators by bringing them to justice. Let this be a continued reminder to guardians of children everywhere, to stay present and vigilant in your young one’s lives. FBI Newark would like to thank the tireless work of our partner agencies; together we will continue to weed these monsters out of society.”

The other individuals arrested in New Jersey as part of the operation include:

• David Tuytjens, 69 – charged with possession of child pornography.

• Natasha Rivas, 23 – charged with distribution of child pornography.

• Dwayne Smalls Jr., 24 – charged with distribution of child pornography.

• Elliott Souder, 52 – charged with receipt and possession of child pornography.

Operation Restore Justice was launched as a capstone initiative following National Child Abuse Prevention Month and underscores the FBI’s ongoing efforts to investigate, arrest, and prosecute individuals involved in child sexual exploitation. The operation was supported by federal, state, and local law enforcement partners and coordinated through the Department of Justice’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative established in 2006.

Nationally, the cases involve a wide range of charges including production, distribution, and possession of child sexual abuse material, online enticement, and child sex trafficking. Arrests around the country included a state trooper and an Army Reservist in Minnesota, an illegal immigrant in Virginia accused of transporting a minor for sex, and a former police officer in Washington, D.C. accused of trafficking minors.

Federal officials emphasized the role of parental awareness, community reporting, and educational outreach in identifying and rescuing victims. The Justice Department continues to encourage the public to report suspected abuse through the FBI tipline (1-800-CALL-FBI) or online at tips.fbi.gov.

Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.