The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO), with assistance from federal, state, and local partners of the Northeast Florida Inter-Agency Child Exploitation and Persons Trafficking Task Force (INTERCEPT), has arrested a Palm Coast man following a seven-month investigation into child sexual abuse material.
On the morning of May 20, a search warrant was served at 108 Woodhaven Drive in Palm Coast, leading to the arrest of 24-year-old Andrew Melo Da Silva and the seizure of child sexual abuse material.
The investigation began in October 2024, when the FCSO Cyber Crimes/ICAC Unit received a tip from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children regarding child sexual abuse material being shared on the messaging app Kik Messenger. Through investigative means, detectives identified Da Silva as the user. During the course of the investigation, detectives documented over 70 instances in which Da Silva allegedly possessed, viewed, or transmitted child sexual abuse material.
Members of the FCSO Cyber Crimes/ICAC Unit, Digital Forensics Unit, Crime Scene Investigations Unit, and SWAT team, along with members of NEFL INTERCEPT, executed the search warrant at Da Silva’s residence. During the search, Digital Forensics Unit detectives and K-9 Birdie, the FCSO’s electronic storage detection dog, located multiple communication and storage devices.
Da Silva was arrested for possession, control, or intentional viewing of child pornography. He was transported to the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility, where he is being held on a $250,000 bond.
“For the second time in one week, our detectives put a disgusting pervert behind bars. I want to commend and thank everyone involved in this case for their hard work putting this guy in the Green Roof Inn where he belongs,” said Sheriff Rick Staly. “If you are doing anything to victimize children, we will work to find you and put you in jail.”
The FCSO joined NEFL INTERCEPT, a collaborative task force dedicated to eliminating child exploitation and human trafficking, in April. The task force comprises investigators and analysts from various Northeast Florida law enforcement agencies, including the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, Nassau County Sheriff’s Office, Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and Homeland Security Investigations. NEFL INTERCEPT partners with Operation Lightshine, a non-profit organization that provides resources and support to law enforcement for criminal investigations, victim rescue, and offender accountability. This multidisciplinary collaboration equips agencies with advanced technology, forensic capabilities, subject matter experts, and other resources to achieve the task force’s mission.
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