Operation Light Shine

This is what it’s all about! I’m incredibly fortunate and proud to work alongside true heroes. Congratulations to our Maryland INTERCEPT Task Force on an amazing job! If you haven’t already, please check out Operation Light Shine and support our mission if you can!

Because of your support, the INTERCEPT Task Force is protecting our communities and children from predators! In September, our Maryland INTERCEPT Task Force, powered by your contributions, led a multi-agency initiative aimed at stopping child exploitation and human trafficking. With the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office, Frederick Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, and more, we united to identify and arrest individuals targeting minors. Over several days, our dedicated teams conducted both online and in-person operations to hold offenders accountable. We also reached out to parents, sharing critical tips for recognizing warning signs and keeping their children safe online. Your support funds the technology and resources that make these life-saving operations possible. Help us keep up the fight—together, we can create a safer world for our children. 👉 Stand with us. Support Operation Light Shine to protect the vulnerable and ensure justice is served.

What an incredible event! Huge thanks to the team at World Childhood Foundation USA for an amazing summit, the warm hospitality, and the opportunity to be part of it. It’s always inspiring to learn from experts in our field—especially when one of them is my hero, Jim Cole

We’re proud to share that our Chief of Law Enforcement and Enterprise, Jim Cole and our COO, Bryan Weight had the privilege of attending the World Childhood Foundation USA summit, “Digital Guardians: Combating Online Child Sexual Abuse.” This important event, held in honor of Her Majesty Queen Silvia of Sweden and Princess Madeleine’s visit to New York City for the foundation’s 25th anniversary, gathered some of the world’s leading voices in the fight against child sexual abuse and exploitation. As part of the summit, Jim Cole was featured as a panelist, bringing his wealth of experience to the discussion. Jim, a retired Supervisory Special Agent with Homeland Security Investigations, now serves as the Chief of Law Enforcement Enterprise & Technology here at Operation Light Shine. His presence on the panel highlighted the crucial work being done by our organization to combat child exploitation in the digital space. The panel was moderated by award-winning journalist Jeff Glor and included esteemed leaders and advocates in child safety, such as: Elizabeth Letourneau, PhD, Professor and Director at the Moore Center for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Camille Cooper, Vice President of Anti-Human Trafficking & Child Exploitation for the Tim Tebow Foundation Sarah Gardner, CEO of the Heat Initiative We are honored to have been part of this significant event, working alongside such dedicated individuals in the fight to protect children worldwide. Our collective efforts, led by experts like Jim Cole and others, are vital in the mission to eradicate online child sexual abuse, and we are committed to continuing this critical work.

At Operation Light Shine, our mission is rooted in three core pillars: Equip, Empower, Educate. These values guide everything we do—not only to support law enforcement but to serve as a beacon of hope for parents and the public. We are here to shine a light on the path forward, fostering a community where everyone is empowered to take action. Together, we stand for a brighter, safer future. We can’t do it alone—we need YOU! Get involved, share our mission with your friends, spread our content, and if you can, please consider donating. Every bit helps in the fight for a safer tomorrow. Together, we are all part of the solution.

Most people don’t know there’s a difference between trafficking and exploitation, and that lack of awareness can have devastating effects. Operation Light Shine COO Bryan Weight, in a conversation with Barks Tatiana Jordan, shares the reality of what we’re facing and how we aim to restore hope for every child impacted. Together, we can make a difference. Stay informed, learn more, and find out how you can get involved by visiting our website: operationlightshine.org

Joyce King with our Maryland INTERCEPT Task Force team to shed light on the growing threat of sextortion—a serious form of child exploitation. In many cases, predators manipulate children into sharing explicit images by pretending to be someone they know or trust. Once they have these images, they use threats and blackmail to demand more content, actions, or even money. Predators often hide behind fake profiles or stolen photos to deceive their victims. A disturbing rise in financial sextortion, which targets teenage boys by demanding money, has been reported. If you or someone you know has been affected by sextortion, you're not alone.

🚨 Thanks to YOUR incredible support, our INTERCEPT Task Forces have made huge strides in just the 2nd Quarter! Check out the impact we’ve achieved together: ✅ 95 Arrests ✅ 46 ID/Rescues ✅ 40 Indictments ✅ 689 Investigations We’re bringing justice, protection, and hope to those affected by these crimes—and we couldn’t do it without YOU. But there’s still more to do, and we need your continued support to keep the momentum going. Join us today and be part of the change! Every bit of help makes a difference. Together, we can make an even bigger impact!

Brandon Guffey's life took a heartbreaking turn when he lost his son, Gavin, to sextortion. Now, he's transforming his grief into action, working alongside Operation Light Shine to protect teens from this devastating crime. Through new legislation in South Carolina and a national awareness campaign, Brandon is committed to ensuring no other family endures the pain his has. Stand with him and Operation Light Shine in this fight, because Tomorrow Needs You. Learn more about Brandon's mission at lessthan3sc.org

Sextortion Awareness with Operation Light Shine Sextortion is when someone threatens to share intimate images to manipulate you. They may ask for more explicit photos, continued contact, or money. Key Facts: NCMEC received 26,718 reports of financial sextortion in 2023, more than doubling from 2022. 79% of offenders are after money, not more photos. Reminder: You always have the right to say NO. The person making threats is the one at fault, not you. Stay strong and reach out for help!