A St. Augustine technology company owner faces decades in federal prison after being indicted on charges of attempting to produce child sexual abuse materials and possessing explicit images of minors. The case has emerged as part of a broader surge in child exploitation investigations across Northeast Florida.
Federal Indictment Details Serious Charges
Jack Dymond Leach, 43, owner of Dymeng Technology Solutions, was indicted on June 9 on one count of attempted production of child sexual abuse materials, two counts of receipt of such materials, and one count of possession. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, if convicted of the attempted production offense, Leach faces a minimum of 15 years and up to 30 years in federal prison. For each receipt and possession offense, he faces a minimum of 5 years and up to 20 years in federal prison.
Court documents reveal that Leach engaged in conversations on an online chat platform during which he paid money to receive child sexual abuse images. The criminal complaint includes what prosecutors describe as messages from Leach's phone discussing children as young as three years old and traveling to the Philippines to abuse children there, as reported by Action News Jax.
Business Raided Before Indictment
Federal investigators executed search warrants at both Leach's home and business in St. Augustine on May 8, more than a month before the indictment was announced. Action News Jax reporters were present at Dymeng Technology Solutions on Paseo Reyes Drive during the raid and confronted Leach about the federal presence, but he declined to explain why investigators were there.
During the searches, law enforcement seized numerous electronic devices. A forensic examination of these devices revealed child sexual abuse material, according to federal court documents. Leach founded Dymeng Technology Solutions in 2012 as a custom business software development company, previously serving as a Microsoft Access Most Valuable Professional from 2012 to 2016.
Part of Broader Regional Investigation Surge
The case was investigated by a multi-agency task force including Homeland Security Investigations, the Clay County Sheriff's Office, the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office, and the Northeast Florida INTERCEPT Task Force. This specialized task force has become a national model in combating child exploitation since its formation in March 2023. In 2024 alone, the task force initiated 1,220 investigations and seized 122 electronic devices containing over 10 million images and videos, including more than 48,000 identified as child sexual abuse material.
The INTERCEPT task force represents a unique public-private partnership between federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, supported by organizations like Operation Light Shine and the Tim Tebow Foundation. According to ICE statistics, the task force identified 28 victims and made 66 arrests in 2024, with many cases still active or in various stages of prosecution.
Rising Trend in Florida Child Exploitation Cases
Leach's case comes amid a dramatic increase in child exploitation investigations across Florida. The Gainesville Police Department's Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force has seen cases jump from 244 in 2023 to 361 in 2024, with 156 cases already reported in the first months of 2025 — representing a more than 100% increase since January, according to The Independent Florida Alligator.
This surge reflects a broader pattern across the state. In April 2025, Florida officials announced arrests in an international child sexual abuse material crime ring investigation that resulted in seven Floridians being arrested as part of a network that distributed explicit material through social media platforms.
Recent Similar Cases in Northeast Florida
The Leach investigation parallels several other recent Northeast Florida INTERCEPT Task Force cases that have resulted in significant federal sentences. In February 2025, Chad Michael Sadlowski, 34, of St. Johns was sentenced to 11 years and 3 months in federal prison for attempted enticement of a minor after being arrested while traveling to meet what he believed was an 8-year-old child for sex.
Earlier, Meggin Anne Evans, 35, of Middleburg was sentenced to 21 years and 10 months in federal prison for producing child sexual abuse material following a Northeast Florida INTERCEPT Task Force investigation. The task force also investigated former Jacksonville Sheriff's Office officer Josue Garriga III, who was arrested for online enticement of a minor child.
Enhanced Legal Framework
These prosecutions are occurring under an enhanced legal framework. In 2024, Florida enacted five new laws that increase criminal penalties, expand law enforcement powers, and modify evidentiary protections for those accused of child sexual abuse crimes. According to legal analysis, these changes include new criminal offenses for "Harmful Communication to a Minor" and expanded admissibility of victim statements in court.
Legal Implications and Project Safe Childhood
Leach's case is being prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. Assistant United States Attorney Ashley Washington is handling the prosecution. The program marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. The case highlights the ongoing challenges law enforcement faces in combating online child exploitation, which has grown increasingly sophisticated and international in scope.
The investigation demonstrates how federal agencies are leveraging advanced digital forensics and multi-agency cooperation to identify suspects who use online platforms to exploit children. The Northeast Florida INTERCEPT Task Force has become a model for other regions seeking to enhance their capacity to investigate these complex cases that often span multiple jurisdictions and require specialized technical expertise.
