CHARLOTTE COUNTY, FL – A man using an online chat platform called “FreeChatNow” with a history of child pornography was arrested again in Charlotte County this week as a result of a three-month investigation by the FBI.
Between August 4th, 2020 through November 2nd, 2020, numerous Cyber-Tips were reported to the National Center of Missing and Exploited Children regarding child pornography files being uploaded using a web-based chat platform called “FreeChatNow”. During this investigation, it was determined that this activity was occurring at 191 Date Street Apt. 204 in Port Charlotte.
Brendon John Boule
On December 16th, 2020, members of the FBI Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement executed a search warrant at apartment 204 located at 191 Date Street. During the search warrant, contact was made with Brendon Boule. Brendon admitted that he has a problem with child pornography. Evidence was located on a cellphone where over 400 images and over 40 videos of child pornography were located.
39-year-old Brendon Boule (06/13/1981) was arrested for possession of child pornography, the transmission of child pornography, and violation of probation stemming from his 2002 arrest also featuring crimes against children. Brendon was transported to the Charlotte County Jail and is being held with no bond.
“Our partnership with the Fort Myers FBI Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force plays a crucial role in the protection of our children. Each and every case is investigated exhaustively, with the end goal of getting predators off the street and behind bars where they belong,” states Sheriff Bill Prummell.
“The FBI remains relentless in its mission to find, arrest, and prosecute any individual who preys on our children. Whether this is done in person, or virtually, the FBI has the tools and capabilities to uncover these crimes, locate these criminals and bring them to justice,” the FBI said in a statement.
The Fort Myers FBI Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force works side by side with the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement in effort to rescue any child being harmed or exploited.”