Daniel Chase Harris, Child Pornography and Obstruction of Justice, Virginia 2015

A former Navy Top Gun instructor has been convicted of producing child pornography and obstruction of justice in a case that shocked the community in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Daniel Chase Harris, 31, was found guilty by a federal jury on 31 counts, including production of child pornography, use of a facility of interstate commerce to entice a minor to engage in criminal sexual activity, receipt of child pornography, transportation of child pornography, possession of child pornography, and obstruction of justice.

The investigation, led by Homeland Security Investigations and the Southern Virginia Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, revealed that Harris posed online as a teenage boy and convinced young teen girls between the ages of 12 and 17 to send him risqué pictures of themselves.

He then extorted the girls to send him additional, sexually graphic and explicit images of themselves or he threatened them with posting the images online or sending the images to family or friends. Nine victims were involved in this case, three of whom are from Virginia.

Harris was a Lieutenant in the U.S. Navy and a Navy Top Gun instructor stationed at Naval Air Station Oceana. He was originally arrested by the Bedford County Sheriff’s Office in November 2013.

The jury delivered the verdict on July 10, 2015, after a 12-day trial. Harris faces a maximum penalty of life in prison when sentenced on July 13, 2015.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth M. Yusi and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Wes Nance, Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney for Bedford County.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:14-cr-76.

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