Plantation Man Indicted For Distribution And Possession Of Child Pornography

Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Alysa D. Erichs, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI), and Patrick Lynn, Chief, Davie Police Department, announce the indictment of Daniel Jonathan Gast, 28, of Plantation, on child pornography charges.

The two-count indictment charges Gast with one count of distribution of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2252(a). If convicted, Gast faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison. Gast would also be required to register as a sex offender in any jurisdiction in which he lives, works or attends school.

According to documents filed with the court, in August 2013, law enforcement officials assigned to the South Florida Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force were conducting an investigation into the advertisement of suspected child pornography over publicly available Peer to Peer (P2P) networks. Their investigation revealed an IP address registered to Gast at his Plantation residence. A search of Gast’s residence in Plantation yielded no evidence of the suspected child pornography. However, a subsequent search of a music school in Broward County, where Gast worked as a music teacher, resulted in the discovery of Gast’s laptop which had over 95 video files of child pornography, much involving children under the age of 12, who were made to engage in the sexually explicit conduct depicted.

Anyone with questions or concerns should contact Davie Police Department Detective Adam Granit at (954) 693-8365.

Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of ICE-HSI, the Davie Police Department, and the South Florida ICAC Task Force. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Stewart.

An indictment is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.