Tampa Man Arrested And Charged With Possession Of Child Pornography

Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces the arrest and filing of a criminal complaint charging David Kneitel (56, Tampa) with possession of child pornography. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison.

According to the complaint, a federal search warrant was executed at Kneitel’s residence yesterday. A preliminary review of his computer revealed numerous images and videos depicting child pornography, including images of prepubescent children engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer L. Peresie.

A criminal complaint is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed a violation of one or more federal criminal laws, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.  Led by United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.