Man downloaded images of children being sexually abused
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) arrested Aiden Russell Thompson, 20, of Pensacola, on 30 felony counts for possession of child sexual abuse material, and one count for unlawful use of a two-way communication device to facilitate a felony.
The investigation began in December 2023 after the Pensacola Police Department provided FDLE agents several Cyber Tip complaints from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). The tips referenced a social media user uploading child sexual abuse material to a social media platform.
Through the investigative and legal processes, agents identified Thompson’s home address where multiple files depicting the sexual abuse of children had been downloaded to an electronic device.
With assistance from Homeland Security Investigations and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, FDLE agents served a search warrant on Thompson’s home on February 20 and an onsite forensic analysis of his cell phone was conducted. Agents located numerous files depicting children, some as young as five years old, being sexually abused.
The investigation was conducted by the FDLE Pensacola Cyber Squad and the Pensacola Police Department.
Thompson was arrested and booked into the Escambia County Jail yesterday without bond pending first appearance. The case will be prosecuted by the Office of the State Attorney, First Judicial Circuit.
Please visit the FDLE website to review tips for keeping your children safe online at: https://secureflorida.org/Family-Safety/BPParents.htm.
