ICAC Arrest

On Thursday, October 17, 2024, the Gainesville Police Department Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Division, with the assistance of GPD SWAT, served a search warrant at 2800 SW 35th PL, Apt 2503. 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 a Google account holder possessed, and stored, child sexual abuse material (CSAM) on their platform.

 

Further investigation by Detective Montague, of the Gainesville Police Department, revealed that the likely account holder was James H. Major (A/M, 09/16/2003) who resides at the listed location. During a post Miranda interview, Major initially advised that the email addresses listed in the Cyber Tip weren’t his, and he didn’t recognize them. Major later advised that it was his Google account, but that this was a one-time incident for illegal content involving prepubescent children. However, Major admitted there was other content, that he previously sought, that was illegal but those children were post-pubescent minors. Major also revealed, that in the recent past, he has chatted online with self-identified minors in a sexual manner and also received nude images of them.

Major was subsequently arrested for 27 counts of possession of child pornography and one count of unlawful use of a two-way communication device. A complete analysis of Major’s seized devices is still pending.

 

The Gainesville Police Department wants parents to be aware that children are being solicited and exploited through social networking and messaging apps. We encourage parents to have age appropriate conversations with their children about the dangers of the internet. 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 Montague at: 352-393-7730 or montagueda@cityofgainesville.org.