Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Diego Rodriquez, Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced the indictment of DAVID KEITH, a/k/a “David Wright,” a/k/a “David Lee Keith,” for four counts stemming from his sexual exploitation and enticement of minors and his receipt of child pornography.

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said: “David Keith is charged with preying on some of the most vulnerable members of our community in the way parents fear most. He allegedly approached young girls under the guise of working in modeling, and then coerced and tricked the victims into engaging in sexually explicit conduct with him, capturing it on video. Together with our partners at the FBI, we are committed to protecting children from those who seek to sexually exploit them.”

FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Diego Rodriquez said: “As alleged, David Keith targeted young girls as they walked in public. He preyed on their vulnerabilities, giving them praise and attention. With twisted tongue, he allegedly told them he could make them models, tricking them into sexually explicit conduct with him, captured on video. He then allegedly threatened them if they revealed the truth. The FBI continues to work on this, and other similar cases, to stop predatory activity that steals the innocence of childhood and threatens our community.”

According to the Indictment:

On October 13, 2013, KEITH, who lives in the vicinity of the University Heights, Morris Heights, Mount Hope, and Mount Eden neighborhoods in the Bronx, New York, approached three girls, approximately 12 to 14 years old, on the street, presented himself as part of the modeling industry, and encouraged the girls to model for him. KEITH induced one of the girls to enter his vehicle, a gray Yukon Denali, where he video recorded, among other things, himself engaging in forcible sexual conduct with her. KEITH threatened the victim not to tell anyone and told her that he had been watching her.

On or about October 12, 2013, KEITH, also in his gray Yukon Denali, video recorded the exposed genitals of a second victim, approximately 8 to nine years of age.

In addition, KEITH’s computer contained images and videos of child pornography downloaded from the Internet.

KEITH is scheduled to be arraigned before Judge Alison J. Nathan, on December 4, 2015, at 2:00 p.m.

KEITH, 38, of the Bronx, New York, was arrested on November 17, 2015, in the Bronx, New York, and has been in Federal custody since. KEITH is charged with two counts of sexual exploitation of a child, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 50 years in prison; one count of receipt of child pornography, which carries a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison; and one count of possession of child pornography, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.

Any individuals who believe they have information concerning DAVID KEITH that may be relevant to the investigation should contact the Federal Bureau of Investigation at 1-212-384-1000 or https://tips.fbi.gov/.

Mr. Bharara praised the efforts of the FBI in this investigation. He added that the investigation is continuing.

This case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Podolsky is in charge of the prosecution.

The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the Indictment forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.