Staff Report
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Arthur Gabriel Young, a 23-year-old former University of Florida student from Miramar, Florida, is facing federal charges related to child pornography. The charges include six counts of sexual exploitation of children through the production of child pornography, alongside one count each for receiving and possessing child pornography. The announcement was made by John P. Heekin, the United States Attorney for Florida’s Northern District.
Young recently stood before United States Magistrate Judge Midori A. Lowry in Gainesville, Florida, for his arraignment. His case is set to go to trial on May 27, 2026, with Chief District Court Judge Allen C. Winsor presiding.
Initial Arrest Details
The investigation began following a CyberTip from Discord on October 15, 2024. Shortly thereafter, a detective from the Gainesville Police Department was contacted by a counterpart from the Westminster Police Department in Colorado. The tip originated from a parent who discovered her 12-year-old daughter had shared explicit photos with several individuals, including Young. According to reports, the girl informed Young of her age early in their conversations, while Young claimed to be 21. Their communication spanned from late May 2024 until September 18, when the girl’s mother discovered the exchange and sternly messaged Young: “Hey F**ker!! I hope you know that my daughter is 12!! I will be reporting this chat. I hope you like being a registered sex offender.”
The chat reportedly included requests from Young’s account for photos, sometimes involving objects, and the victim provided the requested images. The account also reportedly sent the child images of his genitals and videos that showed him masturbating. The child reportedly said she and Young would engage in video calls while they were both nude in the shower.
On January 27, 2025, the University of Florida Police Department provided Young’s address to the GPD detective.
The detective reported that information provided by Discord in response to a subpoena revealed that Young identified himself as “Arthur” in “numerous” chats, and in one chat he wrote, “It’s Arthur the Publix Worker.” He also wrote that he lived at the Lark (1245 SW 11th Avenue). One victim reportedly said she was 14, and others said they were 16 and 13. Young allegedly told several victims that he was 17. The detective wrote that because it appeared Young was chatting with several minors, additional charges are pending.
IP addresses used by Young’s account were associated with a family member’s house in Miramar, Lark/Nine, UF Computing & Network Services, and the Publix at 203 SW 13th Street.
The detective noted that the Discord account contained an image of Young wearing a Publix uniform with a Mandalorian helmet, standing in front of a Publix sign with the address “203” visible and a Starbucks sign under the Publix sign. The detective reported that Young’s social media lists him as an “S-Tier Publix Deli Clerk.”
On February 25, after a search warrant was executed at his unoccupied apartment, detectives made contact with Young near the football stadium on campus, and post Miranda, Young declined to answer any questions.
Young faces a minimum of 15 years per count of production of child pornography
If convicted, Young faces a minimum of 15 years’ imprisonment, and up to 30 years’ imprisonment, on the production of child pornography counts. Young also faces up to 20 years’ imprisonment on the receipt and possession counts.
The case was jointly investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Gainesville Police Department, and the Westminster Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam Hapner.
An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice and led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Divisions Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), it marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
