Lakeland man sentenced to 16 years for production of child pornography

TAMPA, Fla. — A Lakeland man was sentenced Tuesday to 16 years in prison for production of child pornography. This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Lakeland Police Department, with assistance from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.

In addition to his prison term, Lawrence H. Dorman, aka Howie, 43, forfeited a truck, electronic media and his interest in a property located on Gardner Place in Lakeland. He pleaded guilty Dec. 3, 2013.

According to court documents, following an anonymous tip from the ICE HSI Tip Line law enforcement determined that from approximately December 2012 until April 2013, Dorman engaged in a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old female. Throughout the course of that relationship, Dorman supplied the minor with methamphetamine and produced videos of himself engaged in sexual acts with the minor.

On April 3, 2013, HSI Tampa, the Lakeland Police Department and the Polk County Sheriff's Office executed a search warrant at Dorman’s residence. During the search of the residence, law enforcement seized and previewed several electronic media items, including a desktop computer containing a video file. An examination of the video depicted Dorman engaged in explicit sexual contact with a female who has been identified as the minor victim in this case.

At the time of the search warrant, law enforcement interviewed Dorman. Dorman admitted to having sex with the minor victim and creating video recordings of the sex acts. A subsequent interview with the minor victim corroborated the evidence seized in the case. The minor victim also advised that Dorman provided her with marijuana and methamphetamine while at his residence.

This investigation was conducted under HSI's Operation Predator, an international initiative to protect children from sexual predators. Since the launch of Operation Predator in 2003, HSI has arrested more than 10,000 individuals for crimes against children, including the production and distribution of online child pornography, traveling overseas for sex with minors, and sex trafficking of children. In fiscal year 2013, more than 2,000 individuals were arrested by HSI special agents under this initiative.

HSI encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free Tip Line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE or by completing its online tip form. Both are staffed around the clock by investigators. Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, an Operation Predator partner, via its toll-free 24-hour hotline, 1-800-THE-LOST.

For additional information about wanted suspected child predators, download HSI's Operation Predator smartphone app or visit the online suspect alerts page.

HSI is a founding member and current chair of the Virtual Global Taskforce, an international alliance of law enforcement agencies and private industry sector partners working together to prevent and deter online child sexual abuse.