Ten arrests in Calhoun County, serious charges in Pensacola and illegal firearm purchase case in Clewiston
New operations and arrests announced in recent days by the Florida St Department of Law Enforcement – FDLE, with the investigations involving violations of the Registered Sex Offenders Act, offences relating to child sexual abuse material and illegal possession of firearms.
The operations were carried out in different areas of Florida and several of the investigations remain active.
"Operation Blount Force": 10 arrests in Calhoun County
On August 6, 2026, the FDLE announced the results of a two-day operation called surgery Blount Strength in Calhoun County.
The operation was coordinated by the FDLE's Missing Persons and Offender Enforcement Division, the Pensacola Regional Operations Center, the Panama City Field Office, the Calhoun County Sheriff's Office and the Florida Department of Corrections.
The primary goal was to screen registered sex offenders and sex offenders to determine whether they had properly registered their residential addresses, vehicles, email addresses, and online identifiers, as required by Florida law.
The control teams contacted 40 registered people.
In total, they were arrested nine registered sex offenders for violations of registration obligations, while a convicted felon who was under supervision was also arrested for allegedly failing to comply with the terms of his electronic monitoring.
The violations recorded include failure to declare a change of residence, vehicle, email or online ID, failure to declare abandonment of permanent residence and providing false information to the authorities.
Of particular interest is the fact that, according to the FDLE, additional criminal investigations were opened in two cases for suspected possession. child sexual abuse material – CSAM, as well as material allegedly created with Artificial Intelligence.
Authorities announced that investigations are continuing and that new arrests are not ruled out.
Pensacola: 22-year-old faces 20 felony charges
In a separate case, the FDLE announced on August 4 the arrest of Sebastian Christopher Ballensky, 22 years old, from Pensacola, who is a registered sex offender.
Ballensky faces a total 20 felony charges.
These include:
-two counts of failure to declare an online identifier,
-three charges of promoting sexual depictions of a child,
-ten charges of possession of child sexual abuse material,
-two counts of using a computer to solicit or entice a minor for sexual activity,
-and three charges for transmitting material harmful to minors.
The investigation began in April, when authorities examined whether the 22-year-old was complying with his registration obligations.
According to the FDLE, during the investigation it was found that he was allegedly using unregistered Snapchat accounts to communicate with minors, solicit and send sexually explicit content.
Ballensky was already in custody for a different case when the new arrest warrant was issued on July 28.
The charges against him remain allegations until proven in court.
Cleviston: Convicted of a felony, she allegedly bought guns and hundreds of cartridges
On August 3, the FDLE announced another case, this time in Cleviston.
Η Eva Bryant, 45 years old, was arrested and faces seven charges of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a person with a prior felony conviction.
The investigation began in January 2026, when the FDLE's Firearms Eligibility Bureau informed agents that Bryant had attempted to purchase guns in Okeechobee County.
According to the FDLE, the woman allegedly managed to purchase two firearms as well as two boxes of ammunition, each containing approximately 550 cartridge.
Investigators also found that he had attempted to purchase three additional firearms, but those purchases were denied.
On July 30, FDLE agents searched her residence and seized the two guns and ammunition.
During the same investigation, it was also found third firearm, which may lead to additional categories.
Bryant was taken to the Hendry County Jail and is expected to be transferred to Okeechobee County.
The investigation remains open.
Businesses continue
The latest FDLE announcements show that Florida authorities are stepping up enforcement in two particularly sensitive areas: tracking registered sex offenders and illegal gun possession.
Particular emphasis is now placed on the digital activity of the suspects.
The use of undeclared social media, communication applications and even material created with Artificial Intelligence is now part of the investigations.
For families in Florida, these cases are a reminder of something else: that child protection is no longer limited to the physical world but increasingly extends to the internet and social networking apps.
Investigations into the above cases remain active and, according to authorities, in some cases new arrests or additional charges may follow.
Πηγές
Florida Department of Law Enforcement – Operation Blount Force, August 6, 2026.
Florida Department of Law Enforcement – Arrest of Pensacola registered sex offender, August 4, 2026.
Florida Department of Law Enforcement – Clewiston firearm investigation, August 3, 2026.
Florida Sex Offender Registry – FDLE.
