The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday arrested 24-year-old Andrew Da Silva on ten charges of child pornography possession, the agency announced Wednesday. The agency received assistance from multiple other agencies at both the federal and state level in investigating the alleged crimes.
According to the FCSO, Da Silva had been using the messenger app Kik to commit sexual crimes against minors. He was reportedly found by detectives to have possessed, viewed, or sent explicit material involving minors on over 70 occasions.
The investigation into Da Silva was conducted by the FCSO along with other investigators through a partnership called the Northeast Florida Inter-Agency Child Exploitation and Persons Trafficking Task Force. Involved agencies other than the FCSO include U.S. Homeland Security Investigations, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and sheriff’s offices of Clay County, Nassau County, Putnam County, St. Johns County, and City of Jacksonville.
A tip was submitted to the FCSO’s Cyber Crimes division from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, kicking off law enforcement’s investigation into Da Silva. Detectives were able to uncover a trove of evidence that they say incriminates him, leading to a search warrant being obtained for his residence.
The FCSO’s Digital Forensics Unit and K-9 Birdie conducted the search on Tuesday morning. After the discovery of several devices said to contain evidence, Da Silva was taken into custody on ten counts of child pornography possession. He posted his $250,000 bond Wednesday afternoon, jail records show.
“For the second time in one week, our detectives put a disgusting pervert behind bars,” said Sheriff Rick Staly. “I want to commend and thank everyone involved in this case for their hard work putting this guy in the [county jail] where he belongs. If you are doing anything to victimize children, we will work to find you and put you in jail.”
Chris Gollon is a Flagler County resident since 2004, as well as a staple of the local independent music scene and avid observer of Central Florida politics, arts, and recreation.
