A Tampa Bay area doctor has had his medical license suspended after being accused of sexually exploiting children online.

As CrimeOnline previously reported, police in Holly Springs, Georgia steered Stephen Leedy, 59, a Tampa Bay palliative care physician. He was subsequently charged with three counts of producing child sexual abuse material and two counts of coercing or enticing a minor to engage in sexual activity, according to the Department of Justice.

The Florida Health Department issued an emergency suspension order for Leedy’s license on Tuesday, preventing him from practicing medicine in the state while the suspension is in effect.

Court documents indicate that Stephen Leedy allegedly used the username “maximumuncle#9112” to exploit and abuse around 10 minors online. In his conversations and video chats, he purportedly instructed these minors to create sexually explicit images and encouraged them to self-harm by cutting, choking, and hanging themselves, according to the Department of Justice.

Investigators revealed that one victim began communicating with Leedy when she was just 11 or 12 years old.

FOX 13 reports that in November 2021, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced that a 13-year-old girl, one of the alleged victims, was discovered dead in her bathroom after hanging herself in a manner consistent with instructions Leedy had provided.

The court documents also indicated that Leedy’s interactions with other minors on social media centered around producing child pornography and promoting self-harm. Investigstors stated he “hid behind the cloak of anonymity” by misrepresenting his identity or using a black screen during video calls.

Leedy allegedly operated under the username “maximumuncle#9112” to exploit and harm approximately 10 minors online. In his chats and video calls, he reportedly directed the minors to produce sexually explicit images and urged them to engage in self-harm, including cutting, choking, and hanging themselves, according to the Department of Justice.

Investigators found that one victim began communicating with Leedy when she was around 11 or 12 years old.

In November 2021, the U.S. Attorney’s Office revealed that a 13-year-old girl, one of the alleged victims, was found deceased in her bathroom after hanging herself in a manner that matched instructions Leedy had given her.

The court documents also detail that Leedy’s discussions with other minors on social media involved producing child pornography and promoting self-harm. Authorities noted that he concealed his identity by either misrepresenting himself or using a black screen during video calls with the victims.

“According to the indictment and court filings, Leedy, a palliative care physician in the Tampa Bay area, used the username ‘maximumuncle#9112’ to sexually exploit and target approximately ten minors online,” DOJ officials stated in a press release on Monday.

According to WFLA, FDH records indicated he has been practicing medicine in the state since January 1991, focusing on hospice and palliative care. The alleged victims were unaware of his identity and profession.

If convicted on all counts against him,  Leedy could served life in federal prison.

Check back for updates.

[Feature Photo: Dr. Stephen Leedy/ Florida Hospice & Palliative Care Association]