“The Diddy of Marion County” Denied Bond in Gainesville Battery Case

A Florida DJ previously out on bond for possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) in Marion County, Anthony Enrique Diaz, 26, has been denied bond in his new case of aggravated battery in Gainesville.

Marion County Case:

On September 19, 2024, Ocala Police Department Detective Austin Ridge began a follow-up investigation on a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children regarding an individual identified as “RL Ghoulz” downloading files of CSAM from an email “anthony7460@hotmail.com.”

Ridge reported, “The upload IP address comes back to a [Virtual Private Network] (VPN) server from GlobalTeleHost Corp., which is a Canadian company. Upon reviewing their terms of service, they will only respond to [the] Canadian legal process; however, I contacted the company via email, and they advised that their company rents many of our servers in various locations to provide VPN services worldwide. They further provided me with the third-party company ‘Super Unlimited LLC,’ who rents the server associated with the upload IP address. I issued a subpoena to Super Unlimited; however, I received a response stating, ‘We don't keep any user information that could be tied to a server IP address.' I completed an investigative search for the suspect’s phone number, which comes back to Anthony Enrique Diaz.”

On September 23, 2024, Ridge received a response from AT&T for a subpoena he issued for the suspect’s information.

Ridge reported, “AT&T provided that for the IP address 45.17.13.236, the billing party is Elixir Lounge Smoothies LLC, located at 112 SW 1st Ave, Gainesville, FL 32601. I researched this business and found that it is a closed establishment but is now known as Bricks Night Club or Spurred Up Saloon. While researching the new business at this location, I found a review from [July 28, 2024] written by Anthony E. Diaz, which corroborates the [individual] I located during an investigative search of the suspect’s phone number. I also located a potential Facebook account for Diaz, under the name Anthony E. Diaz, where he references ‘my club in Gainesville’ in a post. I contacted Internet Crimes Against Children Detective D. Montague with [the] Gainesville Police Department, who conducted an in-house search for Diaz. Det. Montague advised that their agency has received calls from Diaz, who stated that he was a bouncer/security at the location.”

Ridge’s report continues, “I located a report from GPD on [Sep. 8, 2024], just one day prior to the uploads in the Cyber Tip. In the report, Diaz is listed as a witness to an incident that took place at the Spurred Up Saloon. The report also provided Diaz's work address, 112 SW 1st Ave… I researched the hours of operation for this business, which are 8 pm-2 am seven days a week. This would be consistent with the log-in times for Diaz at the location.”

On November 6, 2024, Ridge executed a search warrant on Diaz’s residence with fellow detectives and the SWAT team.

After SWAT cleared the residence, detectives searched the house for CSAM while Ridge interviewed Diaz, who spoke freely after being given a Miranda warning, the arrest report states.

After a few general questions, Ridge asked Diaz if he ever possessed CSAM, which he denied. Diaz said that he used the dark web to purchase narcotics and credit cards.

Ridge showed Diaz the CyberTip, and he said he hadn’t had access to the phone number or email for years.

The email account that Diaz claimed he didn’t have access to was reportedly attached to his computer.

Ridge reported, “Diaz went on to state that sometime in September [2024], he was in a Telegram group that he found on the dark web that had multiple different subgroups. Diaz stated that while he was in that group, he saw a lot of bad things, including dead people, rape, and ‘kid stuff.’ Diaz then went on a tangent about how he felt that someone from the dark web was watching him and started [questioning] if someone could have set him up with CSAM.”

Detectives found 20 images of CSAM on Diaz’s phone and arrested him.

Aftermath of Diaz’s Arrest:

Diaz’s arrest generated attention on social media, with a comment stating he has committed further criminal offenses.

A Facebook post made on November 9, 2024, states, “Anthony E. Diaz, the one who makes the Monday night meets at the Paddock Mall, is now the Diddy of Marion County, 20 counts of child pornography (he works as a club promoter and DJ at Bricks and White Buffalo).”

A comment on the post states Diaz “would literally drug girls after the club, sleep with them, then ditch them in the Ocala forest.”

Diaz’s Release and Re-Arrest:

On January 22, 2025, Diaz was released from the Marion County Jail after posting a $40,000 bond, court records show.

On September 26, 2025, Alachua County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested Diaz and charged him with aggravated battery.

According to the arrest report, the victim called 911 and advised that she and Diaz were breaking up and he wasn’t taking it well.

When deputies arrived, the victim explained that she and Diaz were arguing over kitchen dishes when he shoved her twice, pushing her into a counter. Diaz then took an aggressive stance and stated he was “going to take custody of his child” and called the victim a “bad mother.” The victim became afraid for her child’s welfare and further stated Diaz was shoving her in an attempt to intimidate her.

The victim had marks on her stomach from the attack.

According to the arrest report, Diaz claimed the altercation was “verbal.” Diaz reportedly acted “very irate toward the victim, even yelling obscenities at her whilst separated.”

On October 1, 2025, the State Attorney’s Office filed a pretrial detention motion on Diaz that was later granted by Judge David Kreider.

Diaz’s letter:

On October 23, 2025, Diaz submitted a letter to Kreider where he states he is a Marine Corps veteran and has “made plenty mistakes.”

Diaz said he wants to take “responsibility” and “accountability over my actions that were unjust,” and then immediately after states he “refuses to accept” the “accusations showered over me” in the aggravated battery case.

Current Case Status:

Diaz’s Marion County charges have been formally filed, and the case is in the deposition phase. Court records confirm Diaz has received a plea offer, but it’s unclear what the offer is or if he plans to take it.

Diaz’s Alachua County case hasn’t been formally filed, and there aren’t any upcoming court proceedings.