Gov. Ron DeSantis Announces Major Arrest in Florida
Federal prosecutors have charged a physician from the Tampa area with multiple offenses tied to the creation of harmful materials involving a child and efforts to coerce the minor into sexual activity.
In a statement released by the Justice Department, U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg announced the arrest of Dr. Stephen Andrew Leedy, 59, of St. Petersburg. If convicted, Leedy could face a life sentence in federal prison. According to the DOJ, Leedy is charged with “three counts of production of child sexual abuse material and two counts of coercing or enticing a minor to engage in sexual activity.”
Court documents reveal that Leedy, a palliative care physician specializing in pain management and relief for severe illnesses, used the online username “maximumuncle#9112” to target and exploit around ten minors.
“In online conversations and video chats, Leedy instructed the minors to produce sexually explicit images of themselves and directed them to cut, choke, and hang themselves,” the DOJ release stated. Tragically, in November 2021, one victim, referred to as Minor Victim 1, was found deceased, having hanged herself in front of her phone in a manner consistent with instructions Leedy had reportedly given her.
Governor Ron DeSantis (R) has emphasized the importance of safeguarding children as a key aspect of his administration. He has signed laws prohibiting sexually explicit, gender-related materials in grades K-3.
Recently, DeSantis addressed this and other issues during an appearance on Mark Levin’s Fox News program. During the segment, Levin criticized what he referred to as the “woke mind virus,” a term popularized by billionaire Elon Musk, noting its presence in American institutions and its impact on the nation.
“Hasn’t the same mentality in our country, in many ways, destroyed the will to survive?” Levin asked. “The idea that wokeism is at the Department of Defense, DHS, FBI, Department of Justice, CIA—there’s no aspect of government, law enforcement, or intelligence untouched by this poison that promotes diversity, pronouns, and the idea that men are women and women are men. This is a poison that’s destroying our ability to think straight, isn’t it?”
DeSantis agreed, responding, “Yeah. We are living through an era of misplaced priorities. The left has used these institutions, which, if you think back, Mark, when you worked with [then-Attorney General Edwin Meese] under Reagan, the Department of Justice was revered.”
He continued, “You think about the Department of Defense. I served in Iraq as a naval officer. We revered these institutions. The left has hijacked them to promote their social agenda. The problem is, this leftism isn’t good for the country, and it also distracts them from focusing on their core missions.”
DeSantis stressed that military leaders should prioritize national defense. “Our military leaders should focus on lethal force and defending the country. That’s how you deter threats. The FBI should stick to enforcing laws against bad actors,” he said. “They’ve taken the lead on counterterrorism since 9/11, but they’ve become less serious about it.”
He added, “In Florida, we’ve had to deal with their lack of cooperation with local officials. They claim they handle terrorism, but their focus has shifted. Even within intelligence agencies, the woke mind virus has run rampant.”
Looking ahead, DeSantis expressed optimism about changes under new leadership. “January 20th gives the country an opportunity. With President Trump returning, we can clean house, refocus these institutions on their missions, and prioritize protecting the American people,” he said.
Reflecting on recent years, DeSantis concluded, “We’re in a deep hole. These past four years have been among the worst periods of presidential leadership in my lifetime. I was born at the end of Jimmy Carter’s term, and I’d say Biden has been much worse than President Carter.”