Palm Beach County Man Pleads Guilty to Producing Child Pornography
| U.S. Attorney’s Office October 25, 2012 |
Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and Michael B. Steinbach, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office, announced that Frank Joseph Smith, of Palm Beach County, pled guilty late yesterday afternoon to one count of producing child pornography, in violation of 18 U.S.C. Section 2251(a).
Sentencing is scheduled for January 3, 2012, before U.S. District Judge Donald M. Middlebrooks. At sentencing, Smith faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum term of up to life in prison.
This case stemmed from an investigation into a website that was advertising escort services. In connection with the investigation, FBI and other law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Smith’s residence and seized computers, phones, documents and records. A review of the seized items confirmed the existence of child pornography that Smith had produced using his Apple iPhone.
Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the FBI and the Jupiter Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lothrop Morris.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.