Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier recently announced the arrest of three Orlando-area individuals on a combined 81 felony charges for possession of child pornography.
The three arrested were Jorge Armando Nieto, 39, Martin Theodore Cassady, 61, and Joel Orellana, 25.
“The depraved individuals who choose to engage in and trade content showing the sexual abuse of children will be caught and prosecuted to the fullest,” Uthmeier said. “Protecting our kids is my utmost priority, and I am confident in our Statewide Prosecutors’ ability to hold these predators accountable for this abhorrent behavior.”
According to the attorney general’s office, search warrants allegedly found graphic sexual abuse materials involving children and animals on the defendant’s personal devices. The office also indicated that some of the children appear to be as young as two years old.
The case follows an investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s Cybercrimes Task Force and tips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
More charges could be forthcoming. Assistant Statewide Prosecutor Rodrigo Caruco of the Nith Judicial Circuit will prosecute the case moving forward.
Uthmeier’s latest arrests follow a series of child predator busts across the state, including a large operation last month involving illegal aliens.
Operation Criminal Return, led in part by the state, resulted in the apprehension of 230 criminal illegal aliens, many of whom were registered sex offenders, over 10 days. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) also assisted in the sting.
The attorney general also announced charges against several individuals connected to an international child pornography ring in April.
“The arrests of these predators are just the beginning. Every image of child abuse leaves a lasting scar on an innocent life, and we will aggressively prosecute these heinous crimes,” Uthmeier said at the time.
Recently, Uthmeier announced a civil lawsuit against Roblox, alleging the popular gaming company misleads parents about the safety of its platform in protecting children against child predators.