For Immediate Release

September 9, 2026 

SANFORD, Fla. – The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) arrested Michael Wesley Zacharia Stokes, 20, of Sanford, on 10 counts of possession of child sexual abuse material. The arrest is part of FDLE’s statewide initiative to identify and apprehend offenders who target children and share files depicting child sexual abuse.

The investigation began in December 2025 after FDLE agents received a cybertip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). The tip reported that an individual was downloading, viewing, and storing files depicting child sexual abuse from the internet to a Dropbox account. Investigators identified Stokes as the owner of the account.

On Aug. 26, 2026, FDLE Cybercrime Task Force agents served a search warrant at his residence and seized multiple electronic devices. A preliminary forensic analysis located more than 40 files depicting the sexual abuse of children. Some of the children depicted were infants less than 1 year old.

Stokes was taken into custody and transported to the Seminole County Jail.

The case is being prosecuted by Attorney General James Uthmeier’s Office of Statewide Prosecution.

The investigation remains active.

Please visit the FDLE website to review tips for keeping your children safe online at https://www.secureflorida.org/SF/Family-Safety/BPParents.

For Further Information Contact:

FDLE Office of Public Information