WASHINGTON — Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche appointed Alessandra Serano as the Justice Department's national coordinator for human trafficking and child exploitation cases. Her role involves leading federal investigations and submitting a strategy update within 120 days.

The national coordinator position oversees efforts by the department and other federal agencies. Serano's oversight role will be housed in the deputy attorney general office. The position also requires coordination with the Office of Justice Programs, which awards grants to victim services organizations.

Serano has held various positions at the department since 2003, serving as a prosecutor in the Southern District of California, the Virgin Islands, and the Eastern District of Virginia. She also served as senior counsel to the deputy attorney general and recently completed a temporary assignment with the Senate Judiciary Committee.

"Ending human trafficking and the exploitation of children has been and remains one of the highest priorities of the Department of Justice," Blanche said. "With today's appointment of Ali Serano, we are sending a clear and unmistakable message to predators we are coming for you."

The department announced an investigation last week into the whereabouts of approximately 300,000 unaccompanied minors. Serano stated, "I'm not saying that all of these kids have been trafficked, but I wouldn't doubt that many of them are." The Justice Department and the Department of Homeland Security are prioritizing investigations of individuals who sponsor three or more unrelated unaccompanied children.

Human trafficking and child exploitation cases are prosecuted through 93 U.S. Attorney offices, with two offices within the Criminal Division handling cases spanning multiple districts. Serano identified financially motivated sextortion schemes as an emerging trend in child exploitation cases. She also identified the nihilistic violent extremist group 764 as a trend involving the coercion of children into self-harm.

A member of the 764 group pleaded guilty on Monday in the Middle District of Florida to distributing and possessing child sexual abuse materials. Prosecutors stated the Florida defendant caused a minor girl to cut herself and write messages using blood. A judge sentenced a Maryland man associated with the 764 group to 30 years in prison on Tuesday for sexually exploiting at least 10 minor females. Separately, the department is observing an increase in cases involving artificial intelligence-generated sexually explicit images of children.