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The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) went to social media last Friday to make a point with a former crew member.

It announced that a cruise ship employee from northern Florida, Theodore “Banks” Pappas, Jr., previously employed by Norwegian Cruise Line on the Norwegian Bliss as the “Head of Broadcast” (broadcast technician), was extradited from Los Angeles on charges related to child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Pappas was arrested on April 4, 2025 at the Port of Los Angeles on CSAM charges after the FDLA began an investigation on July 24, 2023, when agents received a cybertip from the National Center for Missing and Endangered Children (NCMEC) about Pappas’ online account uploading files depicting children being sexually abused. 

The FDLA posted on Twitter (X) taunting Pappas: “Welcome back to Florida, Theo! Turns out, even 2,500 miles isn’t far enough to hide from FDLE. Next time, pick a better hiding spot.“

The FDLE posted images of FDLE agents escorting Pappas, who was cuffed and shackled, off a jet which flew him from Los Angles to Jacksonville. The FDLE then transported Pappas to the Nassau County Jail north of Jacksonville, Florida where he had his mugshot taken.

Pappas was booked on fifteen felony charges. The online booking information indicates that he was charged with 13 counts of possession of “child pornography,” although news accounts reported that he is subject to 13 felony counts of possession of “child sexual abuse material.” He is also charged with one count of transmission of CSAM and one count of unlawful use of a two-way communication device, for a total of 15 felony charges.

A bond was set in the total amount of $1,125,030.00, which is comprised or $75,020.00 for each of the 15 felony charges. It is the highest bond I have seen for the last 20 or so crew members arrested for possession of CSAM.

It’s clear that after nearly two years of investigation leading to 15 counts involving child pornography / sexual abuse materials, a cross-country extradition via private plane, a bond of over a million dollars, and some healthy smack-talk via Twitter, the FDLE is ready to send this pedophile cruise ship employee to jail for a long, long time.

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Image credit: Theodore Pappas and FDLE agents – FDLE; Theodore Pappas, Jr. – Nassau County; Norwegian Bliss – Sea Cow CC BY-SA 4.0, commons / wikimedia.