Florida’s ‘Operation Home for the Holidays’ recovers 122 missing children, leading to six arrests

A massive Florida law enforcement operation led to the recovery of over a hundred missing or endangered children across the state, according to authorities.

The two-week statewide “Operation Home for the Holidays” led to the rescue of 122 children between the ages of 23 months and 17 years old, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced in a press conference on Monday — calling it one of the single largest operations of its kind in US history.

The two-week statewide “Operation Home for the Holidays” led to the rescue of 122 children between the ages of 23 months and 17 years old. Office of the Attorney General

“This is why we do the job. Here in Florida, everybody now knows protecting our kids, keeping them safe, preventing them from being extorted and in danger, that’s what it’s all about,” Uthmeier told reporters.

Various state and local authorities worked alongside US Marshals to locate the children, including 57 children in the Tampa Bay area, 14 in Orlando, 22 in Jacksonville, and 29 in Fort Myers, Uthmeier said in a press release.

The operation also led to rescues in nine other states, the AG added. The number of children rescued in those states is not immediately known.

Many of the children experienced some form of abuse, neglect, exploitation, or exposure to criminal activity, authorities said.

Six people were arrested over the course of the massive law enforcement effort. AP

Six people were arrested over the course of the massive law enforcement effort, Uthmeier added.

Officials did not release the identities of those individuals during the media briefing, but some have been charged with felonies, including crimes involving sexual battery on a child and custodial interference.

“Many of these kids have been victimized in unspeakable ways. We will prosecute their abusers to the fullest extent of the law,” Uthmeier said in a statement.

Operation “Home for the Holidays” utilized real-time intelligence and field operations to locate the slew of missing children, officials said.

Victim advocates and child welfare specialists also coordinated with law enforcement to give the children access to resources upon their rescue.

“The United States Marshals Service is proud to stand with our partners across the state of Florida in pursuit of the safety and welfare of our children,”  United States Marshal for the Middle District of Florida Bill Berger said in a statement.

“This operation was built based upon the wants and needs of our communities.  We are honored to play a leading role in answering those calls,” Berger said.