TAMPA — State leaders, including Attorney General James Uthmeier, said Monday that more than 120 children were recovered or located during “Operation Home for the Holidays.”
There were six felony arrests made.
“If you want to prey upon them, if you want to groom them, if you abuse them, everybody up here is coming for you with everything we’ve got,” Uthmeier said. “We’re gonna lock you up for as long as possible.”
Uthmeier said it was one of the largest child-recovery operations in American history.
“This operation highlights the strength and diligence of Florida’s Law Enforcement. I am deeply grateful for everyone that made Operation Home for the Holidays a massive success,” he said. “Many of these kids have been victimized in unspeakable ways. We will prosecute their abusers to the fullest extent of the law.”
Over a two-week span, a multi-agency task force located vulnerable youth throughout the state, including 57 children in the Tampa Bay region, 14 in Orlando, 22 in Jacksonville, and 29 in Fort Myers.
Attorney General James Uthmeier joins U.S. Marshal Berger in Tampa to announce largest child rescue mission in history. https://t.co/PHxdn3aFRT
— Attorney General James Uthmeier (@AGJamesUthmeier) November 17, 2025
The operation also resulted in recoveries in nine other states.
The children ranged in age from 23 months to 17 years old.
“By gathering critical intelligence, pursuing every lead, and working together with our federal, state, and local partners, we achieved a unified mission and delivered meaningful results — 122 children and youth are now safe, and that is a victory for our entire state,” said FDLE Deputy Commissioner Vaden Pollard.