Statewide crackdown on online child predators intensifies in Florida as authorities announce new charges and major prison sentence in separate cases
Florida – Florida authorities say their ongoing crackdown on online child exploitation continues to produce results, as two separate cases involving disturbing material shared through digital platforms have led to new arrests and a lengthy prison sentence.
Attorney General James Uthmeier announced the developments while reiterating the state’s focus on pursuing individuals who use popular social media and online networks to target children.
Uthmeier said investigators across Florida remain focused on identifying and prosecuting offenders who exploit technology to distribute illegal material or attempt to groom minors.
“Time and again, our office is prosecuting child predators who use social media platforms to share disgusting content and groom children,” said Attorney General James Uthmeier.
“Protecting kids is my number one priority, and today’s takedown of two more predators makes a record 1400 in a year. They’ll face long sentences behind bars or the death penalty where eligible.”
Read also: Florida marks major milestone in effort to attract officers with 10,000 recruitment bonus payments
One of the newest cases involves Devon Huart, a 20-year-old from Leesburg. The investigation began on January 23, 2026, after a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children reported that Huart was allegedly sharing child s**ual abuse materials online.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement executed a search warrant at his residence on January 30, leading to his initial arrest on one count of possession of child pornography.
After posting bond, Huart was interviewed again by investigators. Although he first denied having the illegal files, authorities said he later admitted to possessing them during a post-Miranda interview.
Investigators subsequently uncovered ten additional files containing child s**ual abuse material, prompting his rearrest on ten more charges. Officials also discovered troubling communications linked to Huart’s TikTok account, which remains under review as investigators continue examining potential evidence.
Huart is currently being held at the Lake County jail on a $100,000 bond. If convicted on the charges, he could face a sentence of up to 165 years in the Florida Department of Corrections. The case will be prosecuted by the Office of Statewide Prosecution in Florida’s Fifth Judicial Circuit.
In a separate case, Michael Ambrosio, 52, of New Port Richey, has already been sentenced following an investigation that began during an FDLE undercover operation targeting individuals using peer-to-peer networks to distribute illegal material. On October 18, 2023, investigators identified an IP address connected to Ambrosio during the operation.
Authorities executed a search warrant at Ambrosio’s residence on January 17, 2024. During the search, investigators found 15 files containing graphic images and videos depicting the abuse of very young children stored on his desktop computer.
Ambrosio later entered an open plea to the court on all 16 charges, including 15 counts of possession of child pornography and one count of possession with intent to promote. On February 13, 2026, he was sentenced to 25 years in the Florida Department of Corrections.
Read also: Cold Night Shelter opens in Fort Walton Beach as temperatures drop across South Okaloosa County
Officials with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement emphasized that their agents will continue working with prosecutors and partner agencies to identify offenders who exploit online platforms and ensure they are brought before the courts.
