Jason R. Coody, U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Florida
David Carlton Lee, 59, of Panama City Beach, Florida, has been indicted on one count of transportation of child pornography and two counts related to possession of child pornography, according to an April 7 announcement by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
Lee appeared for arraignment before United States Magistrate Judge Martin A. Fitzpatrick in Tallahassee. His jury trial is set for July 27 at the federal courthouse in Tallahassee before District Court Judge Mark E. Walker.
If convicted, Lee faces a minimum sentence of five years and up to twenty years in prison for the transportation charge. Each possession-related count carries a maximum penalty of twenty years’ imprisonment.
The case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Panama City Beach Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Meredith L. Steer is prosecuting the case.
Officials said that an indictment is only an allegation and not evidence of guilt; all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This prosecution was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse online. More information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one among ninety-four offices serving as principal litigators under direction from the Attorney General.
