Inverness, FL – A 25-year-old Inverness man was arrested Friday after a months-long investigation by the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office High Tech Crimes Unit uncovered evidence of child exploitation material shared via Snapchat.
Detective Ben Wilson of the High Tech Crimes Unit (HTCU) concluded the probe on January 23, 2026, leading to the arrest of Joshua Andrews. Andrews faces three counts of Possession of Child Pornography and 16 counts of Transmission of Child Pornography.
The case originated from a cyber-tip received by Detective Wilson from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC). The tip indicated suspected child exploitation material being transferred through the Snapchat platform. Leveraging NCMEC’s nationwide resources and conducting a detailed digital forensic investigation, Detective Wilson gathered sufficient evidence to secure a search warrant for Andrews’ residence.
On Thursday, members of the CCSO Criminal Investigations Division assisted Detective Wilson in executing the warrant at Andrews’ home in Inverness. Authorities seized multiple electronic devices, which are now undergoing forensic examination by the HTCU. Officials indicated that additional charges could be forthcoming depending on the results of that analysis.
Detective Wilson underscored the gravity of these offenses, stating: “Protecting children from exploitation is one of the most important responsibilities we have in law enforcement. Every file represents a child who’s been hurt, and that’s what drives me to pursue these cases relentlessly.”
Andrews is currently detained at the Citrus County Detention Facility with no bond set, per the standard bond schedule.
The Citrus County Sheriff’s Office reiterated its commitment to safeguarding children and holding offenders accountable. Authorities urged anyone who suspects online child exploitation to report it immediately through NCMEC’s CyberTipline or by contacting the CCSO directly.
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