Florida Man Sentenced to 50 Years for Child Pornography

David Jacob Mitchell convicted for child porn

U.S. District Judge Mary Scriven has, as of January 23, 2023, sentenced David Jacob Mitchell of Treasure Island to 50 years in federal prison for production, distribution and possession of child sexual abuse material and for sending obscene material to a minor. After his release, he will be required to serve 15 years of supervised release. Mitchell was also ordered to forfeit electronic devices utilized in the crimes, pay restitution to the victims, and register as a sex offender. Mitchell formally accepted a guilty plea deal on October 18, 2022.

Between October 2021 and April 2022, Mitchell spoke with an undercover detective whom he believed to be a 13– or 14-year-old-girl. He sent the supposed child images and videos of himself masturbating, and encouraged the undercover minor to send images and videos of herself performing sexual acts. Mitchell also sent the fictitious minor videos of children being sexually abused. Law enforcement ultimately searched Mitchell’s phone, recovering many instances of such content.

Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Tampa led the investigation, with help from the Hernando Police Department in Mississippi. Ilyssa M. Spergel prosecuted the case.

This case was part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the rapidly expanding epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.

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