Former Youth Group Leader Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Transportation of Child Pornography

WILMINGTON, DE—David Osborn, age 41, of New Castle, Delaware, was sentenced today to five years in prison for transportation of child pornography via AOL chat rooms and e-mail. Osborn also was sentenced to five years of supervised release following his prison sentence. He also will be required to register as a sex offender in any jurisdiction in which he lives, works, or attends school. United States Attorney Charles M. Oberly, III made the announcement following Osborn’s sentencing hearing before United States District Judge Richard G. Andrews.

According to statements made at today’s hearing and documents filed in court, Osborn was identified by the Federal Bureau of Investigation through reports of child pornography trafficking that had been provided by AOL LLC to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (“NCMEC”). Under federal law, Internet service providers such as AOL are required to report suspected child pornography being transmitted over their servers to NCMEC, which then directs these “cybertips” to the appropriate law enforcement agency. AOL reported that an AOL user, later identified as Osborn, used AOL e-mail to trade images of child pornography with another AOL customer in South Florida.

On May 26, 2011, federal agents executed a search warrant at Osborn’s New Castle residence and arrested Osborn after finding over 700 images of child pornography on his computer equipment. Law enforcement agents also searched Osborn’s e-mail account, which was found to contain additional images of child pornography. Osborn’s child pornography collection focused mainly on girls between the ages of 4 and 16. Forensic data found on the equipment indicated that Osborn had been receiving and distributing images of child pornography for over eight years. Also found were over 500 Internet chat logs between Osborn and others regarding child sexual exploitation. Investigators also learned that Osborn was the moderator of an online chat room devoted to discussions of hitting and beating children to coerce them into engaging in sexual acts.

Over the 13 years prior to his May 26, 2011 arrest, Osborn worked as a substitute teacher in the Appoquinimink School District and as a school bus driver for elementary and high school students at various New Castle County Schools. Osborn also was a member of Masons Lodge Number 26 in Newport, Delaware, where he held various positions supervising youth groups for pre-teen and teenage boys and girls.

This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Edward J. McAndrew, of the District of Delaware, and Trial Attorney Michael Grant, of the United States Department of Justice’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section.

For more information about reporting online child exploitation to the national CyberTipline, visit the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children’s website at: www.missingkids.com. For more information about the United States Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood program, visit http://www.justice.gov/psc/.