GREENVILLE, S.C. (FOX Carolina) – The Federal Bureau of Investigation said the arrest of an Upstate man is part of a massive operation to track down child sexual predators.
Last week, FOX Carolina broke the news after we uncovered court records that showed David Wells of Anderson is facing federal charges in connection with an international child pornography investigation.
UK law enforcement reportedly discovered a graphic 44-minute video of child sexual abuse. Investigators said they linked the video, which had been recorded in 2020, to Wells, who is now in the South Carolina Department of Corrections for unrelated child sex crimes.
On Wednesday, the FBI announced Wells’ arrest was part of Operation Restore Justice. As part of the operation, the FBI said they have made nearly 400 arrests in April related to child porn possession and production as well as child sex trafficking.
“The subjects arrested in this operation included those in positions of public trust – law enforcement, members of the military and teachers,” the FBI said in a press release. “Others are your neighbors, proving criminal activity can be found even in the most familiar places.”
The FBI says it made 205 arrests and rescued 115 children during the week of April 28 alone.
“The FBI will relentlessly pursue anyone who commits violent sex crimes against children,” said Reid Davis, acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Columbia field office. “These offenders pose a grave threat to our communities and protecting our children is one of our highest priorities. We will use every tool available to identify, apprehend, and bring them to justice with the full weight of the law.”
If you suspect a crime against a child, contact local law enforcement immediately. Tips can also be submitted to the FBI online.
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