WAKULLA COUNTY MAN SENTENCED TO 60 YEARS FOR CHILD EXPLOITATION OFFENSES

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Donovan Arthur Sauleda, 39, of Crawfordville, Florida, was sentenced on Thursday to 60 years’ imprisonment, followed by a lifetime of supervised release, for possession and receipt of child pornography, and production and distribution of obscene material portraying a child. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Our state and federal law enforcement officers work tirelessly to safeguard our communities against predators, like this repeat sex offender, and this case exemplifies their commitment to keeping our children safe from exploitation and victimization. I am very proud of the outstanding work by my office to secure this successful prosecution and lengthy sentence against this predator, which ensures he will spend the remainder of his life behind bars.”

In November 2021, the defendant, a registered sex offender, came under investigation by the Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office for a suspicion that he had failed to register his internet accounts as required by law. Further investigation led to a search warrant in March 2022, where Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement found child pornography and child-like sex dolls within the defendant’s residence. The defendant was found to have made videos for sale and distribution with the child-like sex dolls. The defendant was convicted by a federal jury of all charges in June 2025.

“This case underscores the unwavering commitment of the Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office to protect our most vulnerable—our children,” said Sheriff Jared F. Miller. “Through the diligent work of our Detectives and the collaborative effort with FDLE’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, a repeat offender has been removed from our community. This is what teamwork can do. We will continue to pursue those who violate the law and endanger children with every available resource. There is zero tolerance for this type of exploitation in Wakulla County.”

“Protecting the children of the great State of Florida is something we take very seriously.” said FDLE Commissioner Mark Glass. “The sentence handed down today from the U.S. Attorney’s office was the maximum allowed by statute and reinforces the message. If you attempt to hurt children in Florida, we will find and arrest you and our partners will prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law.” 

“HSI’s advanced forensic capabilities and expertise serve as a critical force multiplier for the law enforcement community, enabling us to uncover, investigate, and prosecute predators who engage in these heinous crimes, said Homeland Security Investigations Tallahassee Assistant Special Agent in Charge Nicholas Ingegno. “This case exemplifies the importance of collaboration between HSI, the Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, demonstrating that together, we can bring justice to victims and ensure that offenders are held accountable for their actions. HSI will continue to leverage every resource at its disposal to combat child exploitation and safeguard communities across the nation.”

Sauleda’s sentence represents the maximum authorized sentence under the law for the offenses. He will be required to continue to register as a sex offender following his prison sentence.

This conviction was the result of an investigation by the Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Meredith L. Steer.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice and led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Divisions Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), it marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.