EVANSVILLE, Ind. — A man from Evansville is among more than 200 individuals arrested across the United States as part of a major FBI-led crackdown on child exploitation crimes.
According to a news release from the U.S. Department of Justice, 33-year-old Raymond Robert Lapensee Jr. of Evansville was taken into custody during “Operation Restore Justice,” a sweeping, five-day operation targeting suspected child sex abuse offenders. Lapensee faces multiple charges related to the possession of sexually explicit material involving minors.
Authorities confirmed that the nationwide operation resulted in the arrest of 205 individuals. The suspects were identified through coordinated investigations carried out by all 55 FBI field offices, in partnership with the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney’s Offices across the country.
In addition to Lapensee, three other men from southern Indiana were arrested during the operation. Those individuals were from New Albany, Columbus, and Lebanon, though their names and charges have not yet been released publicly.
Federal officials say “Operation Restore Justice” is part of an ongoing commitment to combat child exploitation and bring offenders to justice. Authorities also emphasized the importance of public awareness and digital safety, urging anyone with information about child exploitation to report it to law enforcement or the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.
Further details about the specific charges and court proceedings involving Lapensee and the other suspects are expected to be released in the coming weeks.
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