South African Man Sentenced to 25 Years for Sexually Exploiting a Minor and Transporting Child Pornography

Contact: Craig M. Wolff
Assistant United States Attorney
Tel: (207) 780-3257

Portland, Maine:  Acting United States Attorney Richard W. Murphy announced that Denver Carolissen, 42, of Kuilsrivier, South Africa, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Chief Judge Nancy Torresen to 25 years in prison and 15 years of supervised release for sexually exploiting a minor and transporting child pornography. Carolissen pleaded guilty on December 8, 2016.

According to court records, in 2010, Carolissen, who was in South Africa, took several sexually explicit photographs of a minor girl. In September 2014, he sent the photographs to undercover federal agents in Maine investigating the online exchange of child pornography. He also sent child pornography images depicting other children to the investigators. He was indicted in the District of Maine in November 2014, and arrested by South African authorities. Following his arrest, he admitted that he had engaged in sexual activity with the minor girl, taken photos and video footage of the activity, and sent images to other individuals using the internet.

The investigation was conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations; and the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offenses Unit of the South African Police Service.