NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Operation Cross Country, a three-day nationwide enforcement action focusing on underage victims of prostitution, has concluded with the recovery of 105 sexually exploited children and the arrests of 159 pimps and other individuals on state and federal charges.

The sweep took place in 76 cities across 47 FBI divisions and was carried out by the FBI in partnership with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children as part of the Bureau’s Innocence Lost National Initiative.

It is the seventh and largest such enforcement action to date, the FBI reported.

In California, 21 children were rescued and 28 pimps were arrested, according to the FBI.

San Francisco had the largest number of children recovered, 12, across the nation, and tied with Atlanta for having the largest number of arrested pimps, 17.

In addition, Sacramento had two children rescued and two arrests; San Diego had five recoveries and six arrests; and Los Angeles has two rescues and three arrests, the FBI said.

“Child prostitution remains a persistent threat to children across America,” said Ron Hosko, assistant director of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “This operation serves as a reminder that these abhorrent crimes can happen anywhere, and the FBI remains committed to stopping this cycle of victimization and holding the criminals who profit from this exploitation accountable.”

Operation Cross Country is part of the Innocence Lost National Initiative that was established in 2003 by the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division, in partnership with the Department of Justice and NCMEC, to address the growing problem of child prostitution.

“Operation Cross Country demonstrates just how many of America’s children are being sold for sex every day, many on the Internet,” said John Ryan, CEO of NCMEC. “We’re honored and proud to partner with the FBI, which has taken the lead in tackling this escalating problem.”

To date, the FBI and its task force partners have recovered more than 2,700 children from the streets. The investigations and subsequent 1,350 convictions have resulted in lengthy sentences, including 10 life terms and the seizure of more than $3.1 million in assets.

Task force operations usually begin as local enforcement actions that target truck stops, casinos, street “tracks,” and Web sites that advertise dating or escort services, based on intelligence gathered by officers working in their respective jurisdictions. Initial arrests are often violations of local and state laws relating to prostitution or solicitation.

Information gleaned from those arrested frequently uncovers organized efforts to prostitute women and children across many states.

FBI agents further develop this evidence in partnership with U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the U.S. Department of Justice’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section so that prosecutors can help bring federal charges in those cities where child prostitution occurs.

The Innocence Lost National Initiative brings state and federal law enforcement agencies, prosecutors and social service providers from across the country to NCMEC for training.

The FBI thanked the its local, state, and federal law enforcement partners representing more than 230 separate agencies who participated in Operation Cross Country VII and their ongoing enforcement efforts.