🚨BREAKING: U.S. Marshals and Florida officials announce 60 missing missing kids were rescued during “Operation Dragonfly” making it the largest child rescuing operation in American history.
“My name is Bill Berger, B-E-R-G-E-R, United States Marshal, Middle District of Florida, and I am overwhelmed by the results of this operation. Operation Dragonfly, the largest in the history of the United States Marshal Service, if not the history of the United States. As the AG mentioned, 60 juveniles recovered in two weeks, ranging from age nine to seventeen years of age. Several years ago, Atlanta had a similar operation, which resulted in the recovery of 30 children over six weeks. This effort was a collaboration of, as the AG mentioned, 20 agencies with over a hundred people involved.
I want to thank the AG for providing the statewide Special Prosecutors. I want to say special thanks to Sheriffs Chronister, Gualtieri, and Nocco, FDLE, of course, our police chiefs, my friends, Lee Workman and Tony Holloway, Hillsborough County State Attorney, Susan Lopez, who many are, will be speaking in the very near future.
It should be noted that Tampa Mayor Jane Castor and former Mayor Bob Buckhorn also visited the command post and spoke to our team, emphasizing the importance of this operation. We put together this operation emphasizing recoveries, but I will, but I can tell you, I stressed arrests, because experience tells us if the offenders are not apprehended, they will reconnect with these children. They are, in my opinion, leeches.
Behind me, you will see the pictures of eight persons who were arrested and charged with crimes ranging from human trafficking, child endangerment, drug possession, and trafficking. When arrested, they were given bonds ranging from no bond to $250 million bond. I’ve never heard of that before.
Finally, it is important to give credit where credit is due. The one person who was tasked with setting up this operation and universally recognized by all the people involved is Deputy U.S. Marshal Mario Price. Mario will make himself available after this conference.”
HT Benny J