Public Announcement: Sheriff’s Office Seeks Help from Public to Investigate Suspected Online Exploitation of Children
(Alachua County Sheriff’s Office)
Public Announcement from the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office
The Alachua County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help with an ongoing investigation involving an individual who has been using the names 𝐀𝐮𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐚 𝐖𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐨𝐧 and 𝐉𝐚’𝐊𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐚 𝐄𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐬 to contact people online under what investigators have confirmed are false identities.
The individual has reportedly been using one or both of these identities for as long as eight years, contacting people through social media platforms, including Snapchat and Facebook Messenger. Investigators believe the individual has been targeting African American males, primarily between the ages of 12 and their early 20s, in attempts to solicit sexually explicit images and/or money. One reported tactic involves claiming that a camera is broken or making other excuses to avoid live video calls.
The Alachua County Sheriff’s Office is sharing the accompanying profile photos, obtained from SnapChat and Facebook accounts used by the suspect, in hopes of helping individuals recognize these identities and determine whether they may have had contact with the person behind them.
It’s important to note that the women pictured in these profiles have been positively identified as individuals other than the identities being used online. 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐮𝐧𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐩𝐡𝐨𝐭𝐨𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐫.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐝 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐮𝐚 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐲 𝐉𝐚𝐢𝐥. However, investigators are asking anyone who may have communicated with either of these online personas to come forward, as that information could be important to the investigation.
If you or your child has had contact with someone using either of these names, 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐞. We understand that coming forward about these types of interactions may feel uncomfortable or embarrassing, but there is no reason to let that prevent you from speaking with us. Your information will be used to assist investigators in building this case and holding the suspected individual accountable for the alleged attempts to exploit and harm children. Any information concerning you will be handled in accordance with applicable Florida public records laws and protections afforded to victims. We understand the sensitive nature of this situation and we want to assure that you will be treated with dignity, compassion, and respect throughout our interactions.
Parents and guardians are also encouraged to have conversations with their children about online safety. Remind them to be cautious about accepting messages or friend requests from people they do not know in real life, sharing personal information or images, and responding to requests for explicit content or money. Be mindful of individuals who repeatedly make excuses to avoid live video communication.
𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐳𝐞 𝐞𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐫 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐩𝐡𝐨𝐭𝐨𝐬, 𝐨𝐫 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐦𝐚𝐲 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐮𝐚𝐥, 𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭 𝐚𝐭 𝐃𝐂𝐔@𝐚𝐜𝐬𝐨.𝐮𝐬 . 𝐏𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐧𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚 𝐝𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰-𝐮𝐩 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮. Even if you aren’t sure whether the interaction is connected to this investigation, we encourage you to reach out. Information you provide could make a difference.
