PANAMA CITY, FLORIDA - David Michael Hobby Rossner, 36, of Panama City, was sentenced today to 120 months in prison for production, receipt, and distribution of child pornography. The sentence was announced by Christopher P. Canova, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
In May 2016, law enforcement officers received information regarding the online sexual exploitation of a 15-year-old girl. An investigation determined that Rossner and the victim were chatting on the social media platform Facebook. Following sexually detailed chats on Facebook, Rossner successfully solicited the 15-year-old girl to take nude images of herself and then directed her to send them to him. Rossner also previously solicited photos from other underage girls online. The investigation also uncovered that Rossner received and distributed child pornography using the social media platform Kik. A forensic review of Rossner’s cellular telephone and online chats revealed dozens of images and videos of child pornography, including very young females under the age of 10. Rossner pled guilty on Nov. 30, 2016.
United States Attorney Christopher P. Canova stated “We will continue to utilize the resources of our office to prosecute anyone that attempts to steal the innocence of a child while hiding in the shadows of the internet."
"HSI special agents will continue to work tirelessly, with partners like the Bay County Sheriff’s Office, to bring child sexual predators to face justice and ensure those victims who are identified are rescued from this plight," said Susan L. McCormick, special agent I charge of HSI Tampa. "This sentencing is a reminder to those who exploit our most innocent citizens, children: We will identify, investigate and arrest you for committing these horrendous crimes."
The case was investigated by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations and the Bay County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christopher J. Thielemann.
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, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
For more information, contact:
Amy Alexander, Public Information Officer
(850) 216-3854, amy.alexander@usdoj.gov
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
