A 35-year-old Florida man is facing decades in prison after a cyber tip involving his social media activity led state agents to a stash of illegal materials depicting the sexual abuse of both children and animals.
Attorney General James Uthmeier announced the charges against Brent Wells, of Oxford, who now faces 14 felony counts following an investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE).
The probe began on December 3, 2025, after the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) flagged suspicious activity on Wells’ Snapchat account. According to investigators, the tip indicated that sexual abuse materials were being uploaded to the platform.
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Agents arrested Wells two days later on December 5. Following the arrest, authorities executed a search warrant on Wells’ cell phone, where they allegedly discovered additional files confirming the possession of illicit content.
“Trading in this offensive and disgusting material revictimizes the children who were forced to participate in its production and exploits helpless animals who are unable to speak for themselves,” Uthmeier said in a statement.
“We have zero tolerance for this depraved behavior in Florida. Our prosecutors will ensure that this predator spends a very long time behind bars.”
The Office of Statewide Prosecution has charged Wells with:
- 12 counts of Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Materials
- 2 counts of Possession of Animal Sexual Abuse Materials
If convicted on all charges, Wells could be sentenced to a maximum of 70 years in the Florida Department of Corrections.
The case remains open, and officials noted that further charges could be filed as the investigation continues. Special Counsel Rita Peters is set to prosecute the case in the Fifth Judicial Circuit.
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