The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a 38-year-old man accused of creating and sharing child sexual abuse material using artificial intelligence.
Authorities said the investigation began after a CyberTip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children flagged suspicious files uploaded to an account on an online adult content platform.
AI-generated images traced to suspect
Detectives traced the account to Robert Ezra Lamb of Palm Coast. After obtaining a search warrant, investigators reviewed account records and files, identifying images that allegedly depicted child sexual abuse material generated or altered using AI technology.
Authorities also reported finding explicit videos Lamb had shared online, including one in which he allegedly claimed involvement in an act with a family member.
Arrest and charges
On February 20, 2026, detectives interviewed Lamb at his residence. He was subsequently arrested on five counts of generating child sexual abuse material and taken to the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility.
During questioning, investigators said Lamb admitted to creating and distributing the images using an AI application.
Sheriff Rick Staly stated that while artificial intelligence has legitimate uses, it can also be misused for criminal activity. Authorities said the case highlights growing concerns over the exploitation of emerging technologies in online offences.
The investigation remains ongoing.