The Department of Justice earlier this month announced the results of Operation Relentless Justice, a coordinated enforcement effort to identify, track, and arrest child sex predators. The nationwide crackdown resulted in over 205 child victims being located and the arrests of over 293 child sexual abuse offenders. The coordinated effort was executed over the course of two weeks by all 56 FBI field offices, the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) in the Department’s Criminal Division, and U.S. Attorneys’ offices around the country.
In the Western District of Michigan, Robert Mark, age 59, of Whitehall, was charged by criminal complaint with sexual exploitation and attempted sexual exploitation of children and possession of child pornography.
The complaint alleges that Mark was the leader of an all-girl Scouting America troop. After people complained that Mark was surreptitiously taking pictures or videos of scouts at troop events, investigators obtained and executed a search warrant at his home. They found sexually explicit videos of scouts on Mark’s phone that he had recorded using hidden cameras in his bathroom during troop events that he hosted at his home. If convicted of sexual exploitation of a minor, Robert faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison and a maximum penalty of 30 years.
“Operation Relentless Justice demonstrates the FBI’s firm commitment to protecting children from those who violate positions of trust and exploit them,” said Jennifer Runyan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office. “The defendant allegedly used his role as a Scout Leader to target young girls, which is deeply troubling and violates the trust our community puts in its youth leaders. I want to thank our FBI Grand Rapids WEBCHEX Task Force, the Michigan State Police, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Michigan for their partnership in this case. FBI Detroit will never waver in pursuing anyone who violates children and use every means possible to hold them accountable.”
“I commend the FBI for acting quickly to investigate these allegations,” said Timothy VerHey, United States Attorney for the Western District of Michigan. “The conduct outlined in the court documents will not be tolerated, especially when it is done by someone who has promised to watch over the children of others.”
Others arrested under Operation Relentless Justice 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. Some of the alleged offenders include an airman out of Dallas, TX, who was arrested with his wife for producing child sex abuse material (CSAM), as well as a Police Officer from Raleigh, NC, who distributed CSAM to an undercover officer while discussing his interest in engaging in sexual contact with children. In another case involving enticement of a minor, the Miami Field Office arrested a Guatemalan national who was previously deported in 2011, and had previous arrests for battery, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, and carrying a concealed weapon.
As sextortion cases continue to rise, this operation highlights arrests of individuals who target vulnerable children online including the five leaders of Greggy’s Cult, as well as a Virginia man who persuaded a 14-year-old to produce CSAM. The victim attempted suicide after he allegedly told her to kill herself.
This effort follows two other successful operations, including Operation Restore Justice in May, which resulted in the rescue of 115 children and the arrests of 205 child sex abuse offenders, including 7 from the Western District of Michigan, and Operation Enduring Justice in August, which resulted in the rescue of 133 children and the arrests of 234 offenders.
The FBI’s Victim Services Division (VSD) assisted victims during this operation and provided services, to include forensic interviews, referrals for medical and mental health resources, and coordination with partners. VSD's mission is to inform, support, and assist victims in navigating the aftermath of crime and the criminal justice process with dignity and resilience.
These cases were brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. attorneys’ offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit justice.govpsc.
In the Western District of Michigan, Robert Mark, age 59, of Whitehall, was charged by criminal complaint with sexual exploitation and attempted sexual exploitation of children and possession of child pornography.
The complaint alleges that Mark was the leader of an all-girl Scouting America troop. After people complained that Mark was surreptitiously taking pictures or videos of scouts at troop events, investigators obtained and executed a search warrant at his home. They found sexually explicit videos of scouts on Mark’s phone that he had recorded using hidden cameras in his bathroom during troop events that he hosted at his home. If convicted of sexual exploitation of a minor, Robert faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison and a maximum penalty of 30 years.
“Operation Relentless Justice demonstrates the FBI’s firm commitment to protecting children from those who violate positions of trust and exploit them,” said Jennifer Runyan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office. “The defendant allegedly used his role as a Scout Leader to target young girls, which is deeply troubling and violates the trust our community puts in its youth leaders. I want to thank our FBI Grand Rapids WEBCHEX Task Force, the Michigan State Police, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Michigan for their partnership in this case. FBI Detroit will never waver in pursuing anyone who violates children and use every means possible to hold them accountable.”
“I commend the FBI for acting quickly to investigate these allegations,” said Timothy VerHey, United States Attorney for the Western District of Michigan. “The conduct outlined in the court documents will not be tolerated, especially when it is done by someone who has promised to watch over the children of others.”
Others arrested under Operation Relentless Justice 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. Some of the alleged offenders include an airman out of Dallas, TX, who was arrested with his wife for producing child sex abuse material (CSAM), as well as a Police Officer from Raleigh, NC, who distributed CSAM to an undercover officer while discussing his interest in engaging in sexual contact with children. In another case involving enticement of a minor, the Miami Field Office arrested a Guatemalan national who was previously deported in 2011, and had previous arrests for battery, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, and carrying a concealed weapon.
As sextortion cases continue to rise, this operation highlights arrests of individuals who target vulnerable children online including the five leaders of Greggy’s Cult, as well as a Virginia man who persuaded a 14-year-old to produce CSAM. The victim attempted suicide after he allegedly told her to kill herself.
This effort follows two other successful operations, including Operation Restore Justice in May, which resulted in the rescue of 115 children and the arrests of 205 child sex abuse offenders, including 7 from the Western District of Michigan, and Operation Enduring Justice in August, which resulted in the rescue of 133 children and the arrests of 234 offenders.
The FBI’s Victim Services Division (VSD) assisted victims during this operation and provided services, to include forensic interviews, referrals for medical and mental health resources, and coordination with partners. VSD's mission is to inform, support, and assist victims in navigating the aftermath of crime and the criminal justice process with dignity and resilience.
These cases were brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. attorneys’ offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit justice.govpsc.
