LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Federal officials say a large-scale, nationwide enforcement effort has resulted in the arrest of hundreds of individuals accused of child sexual abuse offenses, including one case connected to Kentucky.

The U.S. Department of Justice announced the results of Operation Relentless Justice, a coordinated two-week operation aimed at identifying and arresting individuals involved in the sexual exploitation of children. According to the DOJ, the effort led to the recovery of more than 200 child victims and the arrests of nearly 300 suspected offenders across the country.

The operation involved all 56 FBI field offices, along with the Department of Justice’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section and U.S. Attorney’s Offices nationwide.

Among those arrested was 33-year-old Van Laurence Barker, who is facing federal charges in the Western District of Kentucky. Court documents show Barker has been charged with attempted online enticement of a minor and distribution of child sexual abuse material.

Barker is scheduled to be arraigned before a U.S. Magistrate Judge on January 13, 2026. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison, with a possible maximum sentence of life.

This report was compiled using information gathered from law enforcement statements, official press releases, Breathitt Advocate and publicly available news sources.

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U.S. Attorney Kyle G. Bumgarner said Barker’s arrest highlights the ongoing commitment of federal law enforcement to protect children from exploitation.

Officials with the FBI Louisville Field Office echoed that message, stating that targeting individuals who prey on children remains a top priority and will continue beyond this specific operation.

Authorities say those arrested nationwide are accused of a range of crimes, including:

• Producing, distributing, or possessing child sexual abuse material

• Online enticement and transportation of minors

• Child sex trafficking

Operation Relentless Justice follows earlier federal efforts this year that also led to the rescue of numerous children and the arrest of hundreds of offenders.

These cases fall under Project Safe Childhood, a long-running federal initiative launched in 2006 to combat the sexual exploitation of children through coordinated efforts between federal, state, and local agencies.

Officials encourage anyone with information related to child exploitation to report tips to the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI, online at tips.fbi.gov, or through local FBI field offices.