GPD makes child exploitation arrest
Press release from Gainesville Police Department
On Tuesday, February 8, 2022, the Gainesville Police Department Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Division, with the assistance of GPD SWAT, served a search warrant in the 6300 block of NW 33rd Terrace. The investigation was prompted after GPD received a Cyber Tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). The Cyber Tip indicated that an account holder uploaded and shared child sexual abuse material (CSAM) through the social networking application Facebook; in total ten tips were received. Subsequent to the Cyber Tip, detectives obtained lawful access to the account information and the files that were shared. The files shared were determined to be child sexual abuse material of minor prepubescent children. Additionally, chats were uncovered where the suspect was soliciting child exploitation content and offering to share content.
Further investigation revealed that the account was likely registered to Emily Robinson (DOB: 05/19/2002) who lived at the residence to be searched.
Robinson was interviewed by detectives on February 8, 2022 and acknowledged ownership of the Facebook account in question. Robinson initially denied that it was her that uploaded, distributed, and solicited child sexual abuse material. Robinson then stated that she remembered one of the chats where she asked for child sexual abuse material, but it was for the purpose of outing the user on Instagram.
Robinson later admitted to uploading, distributing, and soliciting child sexual abuse material. Robinson stated that she used to “be into that” but has since stopped since her Facebook account was deactivated in October of 2021. The defendant stated she obtained the majority of child sexual abuse material from Facebook groups.
A preliminary analysis of Robinson’s cell-phone revealed four videos of CSAM in her possession; one video with a creation date of January 29, 2022. Robinson was taken into custody by GPD Detective Montague and charged with 4 counts of Possession of Child Pornography, 2 counts of Distribution of Child Pornography, and 1 count of Transmission of Harmful Material to Minors.
The Gainesville Police Department wants parents to be aware that children are being solicited and exploited through social networking applications. These social networking applications, like Facebook, are also used to share images and videos which depict young children being sexually abused. Please be vigilant and aware of any social networking platforms your children may access.
If you have any questions about this incident, please contact GPD Detective Donna Montague at 352-393-7730 or montagueda@cityofgainesville.org. Parents can also find resources at the NCMEC website: https://www.missingkids.org/HOME