Apollo Beach neighbors are grappling with disturbing news after the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office arrested 38-year-old Michael Austin Gallo on 100 counts tied to child sexual abuse material.
Deputies with HCSO's Internet Predator Unit say they executed a search warrant at a home on Golf and Sea Boulevard on June 17. Inside, investigators report finding hundreds of electronic devices and allege that more than 100 files of child sexual abuse material were recovered. Gallo also faces an additional count related to sexual activity with an animal.
🚨Apollo Beach Man Arrested on 100 Child Pornography Charges🚨
— HCSO (@HCSOSheriff) June 18, 2026
Michael Austin Gallo, 38, is facing 100 counts of possession of child sexual abuse material after a #teamHCSO investigation uncovered more than 100 files on his electronic devices.
On June 17, 2026, HCSO’s Internet… pic.twitter.com/ndgWMU62ho
Deputies Seize 160 Devices and 236 Terabytes in Home Search
The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office says its Internet Predator Unit seized 160 electronic devices and approximately 236 terabytes of data during the search. Detectives report that the haul included phones, external hard drives and other digital storage media, and that more than 100 files of child sexual abuse material were found.
According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, the mountain of digital evidence will be forensically examined for leads that could identify victims and uncover any potential distribution of the material.
Charges Filed and Sheriff’s Warning
Gallo was booked on 100 counts described by deputies as “solicitation or possession of child pornography 10 or more images,” along with a separate count of filming or possessing sexual activity with an animal, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.
In the agency's public statement, Sheriff Chad Chronister wrote, “Those who exploit children will be identified, investigated, and held accountable.” Officials say the investigation remains active, and additional charges could be filed as the forensic review continues.
How Florida Law Treats These Crimes
Under Florida law, possession or promotion of child sexual abuse material and sexual performance by a child are felony offenses that carry heavy penalties. Courts treat CSAM evidence as highly sensitive and require it to be tightly controlled and secured throughout an investigation.
Florida Statute 827.071 outlines how the state defines sexual performance by a child and spells out the related criminal penalties, while chapter 847 covers obscenity and related crimes. For the specific language on sexual performance by a child, see Florida Statute 827.071.
Part of a Wider Crackdown on CSAM
The Apollo Beach case comes amid a broader push by state and federal agencies to track down people who produce, possess or distribute child sexual abuse material.
Just days earlier, on June 12, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement announced a separate CSAM arrest in Brooksville after agents traced activity to an IP address and seized multiple storage devices, describing that case as part of a statewide initiative targeting such crimes. For more on that investigation, see the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
What Happens Next in the Apollo Beach Case
Prosecutors will review the results of the forensic analysis on the seized devices before filing formal charges, and the case will proceed through the Hillsborough County court system.
Investigators are asking anyone with information related to the case to contact the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office Public Affairs Office or Crime Stoppers. Officials say they plan to release further updates as the investigation moves forward.
