July 15, 2011

KNOXVILLE, Tenn– David Donovan, 33, of Sunrise, Fla., was sentenced today to 121 months in federal prison and five years supervised release, as a result of a guilty plea entered on October 12, 2010, to an indictment charging him with receipt of child pornography. The sentencing was held before the Honorable Thomas W. Phillips, U.S. District Judge.

Donovan came to the attention of the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), based upon a referral from the Danish National Police, which had encountered child pornography on a computer seized in Denmark. Upon investigation, HSI agents traced the child pornography to a computer owned by Donovan. A forensic examination of Donovan's computer found that he was in possession of 73 videos of child pornography images, some of which depicted sexual acts with prepubescent children and material that was sadistic or masochistic in nature.

Raymond R. Parmer, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of HSI in New Orleans, said, "Homeland Security Investigations will be relentless in pursuit of those who rob the most vulnerable victims of their innocence. This investigation demonstrates the international partnerships and coordination that the federal government will bring to bear on violators of our nation's child protection laws."

This case is part of the Department's "Project Safe Childhood" initiative, which targets individuals that produce, distribute and possess child pornography over the internet. The Knoxville Police Department, Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force assisted HSI with the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Frank M. Dale, Jr. represented the United States.