Man sentenced to 20 years in prison for receiving child pornography

NORFOLK, Va. – A Chesapeake, Va., man was sentenced Thursday to 240 months in prison, followed by a lifetime term of supervised release, for receipt of child pornography, following an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Norfolk.

David Daniels, 36, pleaded guilty July 12. According to court documents, Daniels was discovered by investigators when using an online message board system where users can trade pornography and child pornography images. Investigators discovered that Daniels had been downloading and trading child pornography images on this website. After an investigation, a search of Daniels' residence and computer was conducted, and numerous images and videos of pre-pubescent children engaged in sexual conduct were discovered on his computer.

"The sentencing of David Daniels to 20 years in federal prison is a stark reminder of the gravity of child exploitation crimes. HSI is committed to protecting the most vulnerable victims in our community, our children," said John P. Torres, special agent in charge of HSI Washington, D.C.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elizabeth M. Yusi and Joseph L. Kosky.

This investigation was part of Operation Predator, a nationwide HSI initiative to protect children from sexual predators, including those who travel overseas for sex with minors, Internet child pornographers, criminal alien sex offenders and child sex traffickers. HSI encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free hotline at 1-866-DHS-2ICE 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 (1-800-843-5678).

HSI is a founding member and the U.S. representative 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.