Two Maryland men have been indicted for child sexual abuse offenses as part of the Department of Justice’s Operation Iron Pursuit, according to a May 7 announcement by federal officials.
Tarif Jahmil Alston, 43, of Baltimore, and Gleybar Josue Ramirez-Clemente, 21, of Frederick, are charged with sexually exploiting children during the operation that ran from April 1 to April 30. The charges were announced by Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, along with Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche; FBI Director Kash Patel; Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul from the FBI Baltimore Field Office; and Clinton J. Fuchs of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Operation Iron Pursuit was a nationwide effort focused on finding child victims and arresting suspected offenders. More than 200 child victims were located and over 350 alleged offenders arrested across all FBI field offices and U.S. Attorneys’ offices nationally during this coordinated action.
“This operation puts every child predator on notice: we are coming for you,” Blanche said. “The sexual exploitation of minors is an abomination with no place in our society. We will hunt down these offenders, hold them fully accountable under the law, and deliver justice for victims.”
Patel said: “Every single day this FBI is working 24/7 to break networks of child abusers all across this country… today’s announcement of Operation Iron Pursuit is just the latest success in that work — with over 200 victims located and over 350 offenders arrested.”
Hayes added: “One of our highest priorities is protecting the most vulnerable members of our community… We will continue working closely with our community and law enforcement partners to secure justice for every victim.” Paul said Operation Iron Pursuit shows how law enforcement works together “to protect children across Maryland,” while Fuchs credited effective cooperation among agencies as key to recovering missing children.
Alston faces five counts related to receipt of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), two counts related to distribution, and one count related to possession. Ramirez-Clemente is charged with sexual exploitation of a child, coercion and enticement, as well as possession charges.
Federal officials noted that indictments are not findings of guilt; those charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court proceedings where sentences may be less than statutory maximums based on judicial discretion.
The Justice Department reported additional arrests nationwide involving various offenses such as sex trafficking or kidnapping linked to CSAM cases during Operation Iron Pursuit’s timeframe. Notable cases included individuals from Ohio (AI-generated obscene material), Washington D.C., New York, and Pennsylvania facing similar or related charges.
A notable recovery involved a ten-year-old from Utah who was returned home after being taken abroad under suspicious circumstances; support services were provided by the FBI Victim Services Division (VSD).
This operation follows three prior efforts—Operation Relentless Justice (December 2025), Enduring Justice (August 2025), and Restore Justice (May 2025)—which collectively resulted in hundreds more rescues and arrests.
The U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland prosecutes federal crimes including those described above while handling civil cases on behalf of nearly six million residents statewide through its staff exceeding two hundred people according to the official website.
