The U.S. Department of Justice’s Operation Relentless Justice nabbed nearly 300 child sex predators across the country in recent weeks, including five Michiganders.
“We will not allow evil criminals who prey on children to evade justice,” U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi said in a statement. “Our federal agents have worked tirelessly alongside our state and local partners to track down these vile predators, and now our prosecutors will ensure they receive severe punishments to match their horrific crimes.”
The nationwide effort involved all 56 FBI field offices, the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section in the Justice Department, and U.S. Attorneys’ offices throughout the country.
Whenever I visit one of our FBI facilities, the hardest part of the day is the time I spend with our VCAC (violent crimes against children) agents and investigators.
These agents, detectives, officers and investigators are some of the most dedicated public servants you’ll ever… https://t.co/KY3RwDsOxZ— Dan Bongino (@FBIDDBongino) December 19, 2025
In total, the operation resulted in the arrest of over 293 child sex predators and the recovery of over 205 child sex victims.
Justice Department Announces Results of Operation Relentless Justice—205 Child Victims Located and 293 Child Sex Abuse Offenders Arrested in Nationwide Crackdown https://t.co/stHSomAlpq pic.twitter.com/9mbzUS3yGQ
— FBI (@FBI) December 19, 2025
Those arrested include Whitehall former Girl Scout leader Robert Mark, 59, who faces charges of sexual exploitation of children, attempted sexual exploitation, and possession of child pornography.
A criminal complaint filed in the Western District of Michigan alleges Mark led an all-girl scouting troop, and used his position to take secret explicit pictures and video of scouts at events hosted at his home.
“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,” according to the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan. “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, Mark faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison, with a maximum of up to 30.
“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,” said Jennifer Runyan, special agent in charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office. “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.”
Others nabbed during Operation Relentless Justice include psychologist Jeremy Tacon and attorney Joshua Ronnebaum, who were arrested following an FBI search of their Detroit home allegedly uncovered numerous media storage devices with child pornography and conversations between the two about sex with children.
“The arrest of Tacon and Ronnebaum led the FBI to Lincoln Erickson, a doctor, who also had child pornography on his phone,” according to a release from the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan. “On December 16, Tacon and Ronnebaum were charged in a nine-count indictment with receipt, distribution, and possession of child pornography. On December 17, Erickson was charged with receipt of child pornography.
“All three men have been detained pending trial.”
Also last week, FBI agents arrested Westland 28-year-old Kevin Howard as part of the same operation.
Howard, who authorities allege was using the Kik app to share pornography involving infants and toddlers to other users, also remains in custody on child pornography distribution charges.
Operation Relentless Justice followed Operation Restore Justice in May that resulted in the rescue of 115 children and arrests of 205 child sex offenders across the country, as well as Operation Enduring Justice in August that freed 133 children and arrested 234 offenders.
Operation Restore Justice included a dozen arrests in Michigan – five in the Eastern District and seven in the Western District.
“Operation Relentless Justice shows no child will be forgotten and that all predators targeting the most vulnerable amongst us will be held accountable,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “This year, the FBI has led multiple nationwide surges across the U.S. to find and arrest hundreds of child predators. We will not stop until every child can live a life free of exploitation. We will utilize the strength of all our field offices and our federal, state, and local partners to protect communities across the nation from such horrific crimes.”
