Yulee Man Sentenced To More Than Thirteen Years For Distributing Child Pornography

Jacksonville, Florida – United States District Judge Timothy J. Corrigan has sentenced Nicholas Mitko Clark (22, Yulee) to 13 years and 4 months in federal prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release, for transporting child pornography. The Court also ordered him to forfeit the laptop computer and cellphone that he had used to commit the offense. Clark pleaded guilty on January 13, 2015.

According to court documents, in April 2013, Clark used an instant messaging service to chat with an individual in Canada, with whom he exchanged child pornography. During the chat, Clark requested that the individual send him child pornography and advised that he likes children between the ages of and 8 and 13. After receiving an image depicting a young child, Clark responded that he already had that file and requested another one. Clark and the individual proceeded to exchange additional files of child pornography. Through their investigation, law enforcement agents obtained Clark’s cellphone and recovered several additional images of child pornography.

At the time of his arrest, Clark was employed as an afterschool counselor by a youth development organization in Northeast Florida, and worked with children through various churches. He also advertised his babysitting and child transportation services on the Internet.

“This case is especially egregious, as this pedophile actively sought to work with children, in places they should feel safe and secure,” said Susan L. McCormick, special agent in charge of HSI Tampa. “HSI special agents, and our law enforcement partners like the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office, will continue to work diligently to protect our children from predators.”     

This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kelly S. Karase.

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 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.