Canadian Man Indicted in Delaware on International Sex Tourism Charges

Charles M. Oberly, III, United States Attorney for the District of Delaware, announced today that a federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging David Gellad, age 43, of Rosemere, Quebec, Canada, with traveling to the United States to engage in sexual conduct with a 14-year-old female whom he met online. The three-count indictment charges Gellad with one count of enticement of a minor and two counts of travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct, in violation of Title 18, U.S.C., Sections 2422 and 2423.

According to the indictment and other court documents, on two occasions between March and June 2011, Gellad flew from Montreal to Philadelphia International Airport and then traveled by car to pick the victim up near her Southeastern Pennsylvania residence. In March 2011, Gellad allegedly traveled from Montreal to Southeastern Pennsylvania, where he engaged in sexual conduct with the minor. In June 2011, Gellad allegedly traveled from Montreal to Pennsylvania and then drove the minor victim to a Marriott hotel in Newark, Delaware, where they engaged in sexual conduct. Since October 2010, Gellad had been carrying on an online relationship with the teenager through her iPod Touch, using instant messaging and photo sharing applications.

Law enforcement agents became aware of the alleged relationship shortly after the June encounter between Gellad and the teenager, by which point Gellad had returned to Canada. A federal criminal complaint and arrest warrant were filed under seal in early June 2011. On July 23, 2011, Gellad was arrested at the Highgate Springs Port of Entry, in Swanton, Vermont, as he attempted to re-enter the United States. He has been detained in federal custody since his arrest.

Gellad faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years, to life, in prison on the child enticement charge. He faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison on the travel charges. He also faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years, to life, of supervised release following any prison term. If convicted, he also will be required to register as a sex offender in any jurisdiction in which he lives, works or attends school.

This case is being investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, the Pennsylvania State Police, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office, and the University of Delaware Police Department.

Criminal indictments are only charges and are not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.