Authorities in Riverside County, California, announced the conclusion of Operation Volcano, a year-long initiative targeting child sexual exploitation that resulted in 42 arrests and identified 500 suspected distributors of child sexual abuse material. The operation, which ran from March 2025 to March 2026, focused on dismantling online networks and prioritized high-risk offenders, including those with prior convictions, individuals under criminal justice supervision, and those in positions of public trust.
Riverside County District Attorney’s office confirmed the arrests in a May 11 news release, emphasizing the operation’s dual goals of apprehending offenders and disrupting regional distribution networks. Investigators targeted peer-to-peer networks to identify IP addresses linked to the dissemination of illegal material. Among those arrested were professionals in fields involving children, including a child psychologist, a hospital chief technology officer, a local government planning director, and a retired law enforcement employee.
The suspects, aged 21 to 81, were arrested across 19 Riverside County cities, with the highest concentrations in Menifee (6 arrests), Riverside (5 arrests), and Moreno Valley (5 arrests). Authorities did not disclose the specific charges against each individual but noted that the operation was a collaboration between the Riverside County Child Exploitation Team and the nonprofit Our Rescue, which specializes in combating child exploitation. The investigation also uncovered hundreds of alleged victims, primarily minors, according to Homeland Security Investigations.
Law enforcement agencies did not provide further details on the operational methods or the timeline of ongoing prosecutions. The Riverside County District Attorney’s office stated that additional arrests and prosecutions are expected as the investigation continues.