Operation Overwatch: Protecting Children in Plain Sight

During one of New Mexico’s most celebrated family events, the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, a very different kind of operation was unfolding. Operation Overwatch, the largest Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) sting in the state’s history, was underway with a singular goal: stop suspected predators before they could reach a child.

“We want to put ourselves between a potential predator and a potential child,” said Owen Peña, special agent-in-charge of the New Mexico DOJ ICAC Task Force. “If they’re out there looking for kids, we hope they find us instead.”

Planning, Partnerships and Precision

The operation was planned over the course of a year and was strategically timed around the influx of visitors who travel to Albuquerque for the balloon festival. It was the first of its scale in New Mexico, with extensive coordination across federal, state and local agencies including surveillance teams, and undercover chatters.

Using AI-enhanced techniques like age-regressed images and voice modulation to make their online personas as convincing as possible, officers posed as minors. These decoys engaged suspects in prolonged online chats, building trust until an in-person meeting was arranged.

When the Chat Turns into a Real-World Threat

“It can take days for these predators to let their guard down,” one officer explained. “But when they do, and they show up, those are the ones we need off the streets.”

To ensure safety and the suspects’ capture, takedown and surveillance teams were deployed near designated meet locations. The suspects were given multiple opportunities to walk away, and when they didn’t, law enforcement was ready.

Digital Evidence: The Smoking Gun

Once suspects were in custody, quickly accessing digital evidence was critical. Using Cellebrite Inseyets, investigators extracted chat logs, photos and other key data directly from mobile devices in real time. AI-assisted tools accelerated the process, highlighting explicit content and potentially overlooked patterns of abuse.

“Our smoking gun is the digital evidence. We don’t have a case quite often without that digital evidence.”

After processing, the data was uploaded to Cellebrite Guardian, where it is securely shared with prosecutors and partner agencies. “Once you process it, we can upload it to Guardian. They get a link, they can download and share it,” Peña explained. This seamless chain of custody ensures that every piece of evidence is accessible and protected.

Eight Arrests. Multiple Children Protected.

Over the course of the operation, eight suspects were arrested. These individuals all showed up to meet what they believed to be underage children. As a result of Operation Overwatch, they’re now facing prosecution.

For Peña and his team, even one arrest would have made the operation worthwhile. “It’s about protecting the innocence of children,” he said. “And letting the community know—we are always watching, always working to keep them safe.”

Come along with us as we take you behind the scenes of Operation Overwatch to give you an up-close look at how digital evidence helps build a strong and defensible case.