Federal prosecutors have charged Dr. Stephen Andrew Leedy, a 59-year-old St. Petersburg physician, with producing child sexual abuse material and coercing minors.
Leedy, using the username “maximumuncle#9112,” exploited at least ten minors online, instructing them to create explicit images and engage in harmful acts. One victim, following his instructions, was found dead in November 2021. Leedy faces life in prison if convicted. Meanwhile, Governor Ron DeSantis has focused on child protection, criticizing “woke” ideologies in U.S. institutions. DeSantis has called for reforms to refocus agencies like the FBI and Department of Defense on their core missions, such as national security and law enforcement, rather than social agendas.
