After a recent five-week international sting operation called Operation Sunflower, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents say they arrested 245 men and women accused of sexually exploiting children.
Agents also identified and rescued 123 child victims. 46 of them were under the age of 12, and 5 of them were under the age of 3.
110 of those victims were in the U.S. The others were living in six countries.
"When we found 44 of our victims, they were living with the very person who was sexually abusing them," said ICE Director John Morton.
Morton says the investigation is part of the agency's effort to find and rescue victims, and arrest abusers and people who make or transmit child pornography.
Agents say one of the most significant cases solved in Operation Sunflower was in Myrtle Beach. On November 8, a six-year-old girl was identified as a victim of child pornography. Gerald Roberts, 51, of Pageland, S.C., was arrested. Investigators say he was the man who victimized her to produce child pornography.
Homeland Security Investigation's Cyber Crimes Center began trying to identify the girl in October after images of her were found on internet websites known to host child pornography. Through the investigation, special agents were able to identify both Roberts and the abused girl.
Roberts is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office for South Carolina.
As a part of Operation Sunflower, agents are still trying to identify four suspects who are seen in child pornography. Look through the slide show at the top of this story to see those pictures and information.You can also click here to see the wanted posters.
