Tampa Man Sentenced To 50 Years For Child Sexual Exploitation Offenses

Tampa, FL – U.S. District Judge James D. Whittemore has sentenced Donald Daniel Robinson (30, Tampa) to 50 years in federal prison for producing, possessing, and distributing child pornography. He pleaded guilty on February 16, 2016.

According to court documents, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) began an investigation after receiving numerous tips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children concerning an Internet user at Robinson’s residence who had distributed files containing child pornography through various social networking websites. On July 8, 2015, agents from FDLE and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations executed a search warrant at Robinson’s home. Multiple images of child pornography, including images of local children, were found during the search.

According to victims and evidence obtained from Robinson’s phone, Robinson had posed as a female online to coerce children to produce and send the explicit images to him. The images included minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Additionally, two victims told agents that Robinson had persuaded them to perform sex acts on him.

"This lengthy prison sentence is reflective of the heinous nature of the crime committed and a result of the hard work of our HSI special agents and FDLE," said Susan L. McCormick, special agent in charge of HSI Tampa. "This criminal stole the innocence of young children and HSI will do everything in our power to protect our children and bring to justice those involved in these despicable crimes.”

“This case puts into perspective that crimes like this begin with live victims who are children,” said Tom Foy, FDLE Tampa’s Special Agent in Charge. “The suspect in this case manipulated children for his benefit. FDLE and HSI will continue this effort to protect our children from those who would use their innocence and youth for their advantage and criminal activity.”

This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Amanda C. Kaiser.

It is another case 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 the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, 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.