TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General James Uthmeier announced that Jacob Rookey, 21, of Cudjoe Key, has been arrested and charged with 1 count of Promotion of Child Sexual Abuse Materials (CSAM), one count of Possession of CSAM, one count of Transmission of CSAM by Electronic Device, two counts of Solicitation of CSAM, three counts of Generated Altered Sexual Images, three counts of Generated CSAM, and seven counts of Promotion of Animal Sexual Abuse Materials.
“Trading in material that involves the sexual exploitation of children and animals is what keeps the sick market for this material alive,” said Attorney General James Uthmeier. “We will seek the maximum punishment under the law for predators who perpetuate this abusive trade.”
“Preying on our community’s most innocent and vulnerable will never be okay in Florida. FDLE will investigate these vile crimes and work with Attorney General James Uthmeier’s statewide prosecutors to ensure you do not have the opportunity to victimize our children ever again,” said FDLE Commissioner Mark Glass. “We urge parents and guardians to talk to your children and learn more about what they are putting online. Prevention is the best way to deter crime. Visit the Secure Florida website, which is maintained by the FDLE Cyber Crime and Telecommunications Bureau.”
The investigation into Rookey was launched when the Broward County Sheriff’s Office (BSO) received a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that Rookeywas possessing, viewing, and transmitting CSAM via Snapchat. BSO identified Rookey by his IP address and determined that jurisdiction belonged to FDLE Florida Keys.
FDLE obtained and executed subpoenas and search warrants that led to the discovery of communications in which Rookey was buying/selling CSAM and animal sexual abuse materials as well as soliciting minors to send him CSAM. In many of the communications, Rookey was posing as an underage girl.
Rookey was subsequently arrested. If convicted as charged, Rookey faces up to 100 years in the Florida Department of Corrections. The investigation is ongoing, and more charges may be filed as needed.
This case will be prosecuted by Assistant Statewide Prosecutor Jillian Tate in the Sixteenth Judicial Circuit of Florida.
