ST. LUCIE COUNTY, FLORIDA – REGISTERED SEX OFFENDER TIMOTHY FERREIRA ARRESTED IN CHILD EXPLOITATION INVESTIGATION

ST. LUCIE COUNTY, FLORIDA – REGISTERED SEX OFFENDER TIMOTHY FERREIRA ARRESTED IN CHILD EXPLOITATION INVESTIGATION

ST. LUCIE COUNTY, FL — A significant breakthrough has been made in an active child exploitation investigation in Lakewood Park, where law enforcement officials from the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office executed a targeted operation resulting in the arrest of a registered sex offender, 26-year-old Timothy Edward Ferreira.

On the morning of June 27, 2025, at approximately 6:00 a.m., the St. Lucie County SWAT Team executed a search warrant at a residence in the 7900 block of Citrus Park Boulevard. The operation, carried out with precision and based on months of investigative work, was part of an ongoing probe by the Criminal Investigations Division into Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC).

Disturbing Charges Filed

Following the execution of the warrant, Timothy Edward Ferreira was taken into custody without incident. Ferreira, a known sex offender with a troubling criminal history, is now facing multiple felony charges, including:

• Three counts of transmission of material harmful to a minor by electronic communication
• Five counts of possession of child pornography
• One count of sexual activity with a minor
• One count of transmitting child pornography by electronic device or equipment

Ferreira is currently being held at the St. Lucie County Jail, with his bond set at $700,000.

Sheriff Del Toro: “Zero Tolerance for Crimes Against Children”

In a strong statement issued Friday morning, St. Lucie County Sheriff Richard Del Toro expressed both his condemnation of the crimes and his unwavering support for the team responsible for Ferreira’s arrest:

“Crimes against children are among the most disturbing and unacceptable offenses we face as a community. The exploitation of our most vulnerable will never be tolerated, and we will continue to dedicate every resource necessary to identify, arrest, and prosecute those responsible. I commend the tireless efforts of our Criminal Investigations Division and the precision of our SWAT Team in bringing this suspect into custody.”

Ongoing Investigation and Community Call for Information

Authorities confirm that this arrest is only one part of a broader investigation, with detectives actively pursuing leads to determine if there are additional victims or accomplices involved in Ferreira’s crimes.

The St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office is urging anyone who may have information related to this case—or who believes they or someone they know may have been affected—to come forward.

Please contact Detective Eric Wax at WaxE@stluciesheriff.com or call (772) 462-7300 with any tips or information.

Community Vigilance Urged

The arrest of Timothy Ferreira serves as a sobering reminder of the critical role of digital surveillance and community awareness in identifying and stopping online predators. Sheriff Del Toro emphasized that the work of protecting children doesn’t end with a single arrest, and the Sheriff’s Office remains committed to fighting online child exploitation in all forms.

The Criminal Investigations Division, in collaboration with national and regional task forces specializing in internet crimes, will continue to monitor digital platforms, investigate suspicious activity, and bring perpetrators to justice.

Further updates will be released as new information emerges.

If you see something, say something. Protecting children requires a united community response.