Florida man, 29, arrested for child sexual abuse images

Erick Paniagua, a 29-year-old man from Richmond West, Florida, was arrested by the Miami-Dade County Police Department after an investigation revealed he possessed a significant collection of child sexual abuse materials. The investigation began in August when the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children alerted authorities about Paniagua's activities on the messaging app Kik. He was found to be using this platform to store and share obscene files involving children aged 2 to 12. Upon identifying Paniagua as the owner of the Kik account, police discovered he also utilized Skiff, an encrypted email service, to upload approximately 100 files. A search warrant executed at his home led to the seizure of his electronic devices, which are currently under examination for further evidence. During the investigation, Paniagua confessed to the charges after being informed of his rights. He faces 15 felony charges for possession of obscene sexual performances by a child. The severity of these charges reflects the nature of the materials involved and the ages of the victims depicted in the files. Paniagua is currently being held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, with a bond set at $30,000. This case highlights the ongoing issue of child exploitation and the role of technology in facilitating such crimes. The collaboration between law enforcement and organizations like NCMEC is crucial in identifying and apprehending individuals involved in the distribution and possession of child sexual abuse materials.