Richard Matthew Moore, a 34-year-old Newberry resident, was charged Tuesday for possessing child sexual abuse material.
Moore was arrested during a three-day undercover operation called “Operation Firewall,” which took place July 30 through Aug. 1. A Gainesville man was arrested Aug. 26 for similar charges within this operation.
Undercover law enforcement used fake juvenile personas to find people trying to exploit or traffic children. Moore had an illicit conversation with a fictional 15-year-old female, according to the arrest report, and sent a picture of his genitals.
Moore and the fake persona decided to meet in a private location on Aug. 3. He was arrested upon his arrival at the meeting spot, and officers seized his phone, which was found in his vehicle.
During a post-arrest interview, Moore admitted he had images of child sexual abuse material. He also admitted to requesting sexual images from children.
While searching his phone, officers found more than 20 images of child sexual abuse material. Additional material used artificial intelligence to undress minors in photos. The children appeared to range in age from 3 years old to teenagers, according to the arrest report. A recent Florida law made the use of AI to exploit children a third-degree felony.
According to the report, police also found that Moore looked up “are the pedophile setups in Gainesville FL” on his web browser.
Moore, who was already being held in the Alachua County Jail for traveling to meet a minor on Aug. 3, was charged with possesion of child sexual abuse material.
His bond is set at $100,000 as he awaits trial.
Contact Teia Williams at twilliams@alligator.org. Follow her on X @teia_williams.
Teia Williams is a journalism senior at UF and the Fall 2026 criminal justice reporter. This is her fourth semester with The Alligator. If she isn't writing an article, you can find her a concert, reading a book or somewhere soaking up the sun.
