SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — An FBI-led nationwide operation targeting child sex abuse offenders has led to the arrest of 205 individuals, including three men from Central Illinois.

This initiative was carried out over a span of five days involving all 55 FBI field offices, the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division, along with United States Attorney’s Offices nationwide.

“The Department of Justice will relentlessly pursue efforts to protect victims — particularly child victims — and our work will not be complete until we locate, detain, and prosecute every child predator who targets the most vulnerable among us,” Attorney General Pamela Bondi stated in a release. “I am thankful to the FBI and their state and local partners for their outstanding work in Operation Restore Justice and have instructed my prosecutors to stand firm.”

The cases charged in the Central District of Illinois include the following men:

• James Yeager, 51 of Springfield
• Dalton Trader, 27 of Williamsville
• Mark Peterson, 41 of Pekin

Peterson was charged by a federal criminal complaint on April 25 with attempted enticement of a minor. A federal grand jury returned an indictment against Peterson on May 6.

According to the complaint affidavit, Peterson communicated via an internet-based social media platform with someone he believed had access to a 10-year-old girl, expressing on multiple occasions that he wanted to engage in sexual activity with her. The affidavit also showed that on April 24, Peterson drove to a location in Peoria to meet the child for the purpose of having sexual relations. Federal law enforcement agents then arrested him upon arrival.

If convicted of this charge, Peterson faces a minimum sentence of 10 years to life in prison. U.S. Magistrate Judge Eric I. Long ordered him detained on April 29, and he remains in the custody of the U.S. Marshals. The charges are the result of an investigation by the FBI Springfield Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa P. Ortiz is representing the government in the prosecution.

Trader was charged by federal complaint on April 29 with possession of child pornography. The complaint affidavit said that through a search warrant, law enforcement agents discovered multiple child pornography videos, including a video of a prepubescent minor, on Trader’s computer.

If convicted of this charge, he faces a sentence of up to 20 years in prison. Trader is currently in the custody of the U.S. Marshals pending a detention hearing that is set for May 8.

The charges are the result of an investigation by the FBI Springfield Field Office with assistance from the following:

• Illinois Attorney General’s Office
• Williamsville Police Department
• Illinois State Police
• Springfield Police Department
• Illinois Secretary of State Police
• Sherman Police Department
• Sangamon County Animal Control

Assistant U.S. Attorney Tanner K. Jacobs is representing the government in this prosecution.

Yeager was also charged by federal criminal complaint on April 29 with possession of child pornography. According to the complaint affidavit, through a search warrant, law enforcement agents discovered multiple child pornography images, including photographs of prepubescent minors, on a micro-SD drive at Yeager’s residence.

U.S. District Judge Collen R. Lawless ordered him detained on May 6, and he remains in the custody of the U.S. Marshals. The charges are the result of an investigation by the FBI Springfield Office with help from the following agencies:

• Decatur Police Department
• Springfield Police Department
• Illinois State Police
• Illinois Attorney General’s Office Investigation Division
• Illinois Secretary of State Police

Assistant U.S. Attorney Tanner K. Jacobs is representing the government in the prosecution. If convicted of this charge, Yeager faces a minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

“Every child deserves to grow up free from fear and exploitation, and the FBI will continue to be relentless in our pursuit of those who exploit the most vulnerable among us,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “Operation Restore Justice proves that no predator is out of reach and no child will be forgotten. By leveraging the strength of all our field offices and our federal, state and local partners, we’re sending a clear message: there is no place to hide for those who prey on children.”

Additionally, the following agencies provided further assistance during Operation Restore Justice:

• Charleston Police Department
• Bradley Police Department
• Manteno Police Department
• University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Police Department
• Eastern-Central Illinois Task Force

These cases were brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. This effort follows the Department of Justice’s observance of National Child Abuse Prevention Month in April.

For more information on Project Safe Childhood, visit the U.S. Department of Justice’s website. Tips of possible child sexual exploitation can be sent to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) through their 24/7 hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST and on missingkids.org.

The Department is also urging the public to remain vigilant and report suspected exploitation of a child through the FBI’s tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324), on tips.fbi.gov or by calling a local FBI field office.