Daniel Leroy Ard, Child Pornography Offenses, Florida 2016

PENSACOLA, FLORIDA — A disturbing case of child exploitation has come to light in Pensacola, Florida, as Daniel Leroy Ard, 33, a registered sex offender, was sentenced to 180 months in federal prison for his involvement in federal child pornography offenses.

Ard, who was already a registered sex offender, pleaded guilty in June 2016 to receiving child pornography. This egregious crime was discovered through an online investigation conducted by federal agents, who found that Ard had received or attempted to receive child pornography images and videos on numerous occasions between June 14, 2014, and May 26, 2015.

A forensic review of Ard’s laptop computer and numerous hard drives revealed a staggering amount of child pornography, with approximately 87 videos and 4,257 images containing explicit and disturbing content.

The case was investigated by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Pensacola Police Department, and the North Florida Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. The Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey M. Tharp prosecuted the case.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, which is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General, handled the prosecution. The public can access public court documents online through the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website.

The Northern District of Florida is committed to protecting the community and holding perpetrators accountable for their crimes. Ard’s sentence serves as a reminder of the severity of child pornography offenses and the consequences of such actions.

For more information, contact Amy Alexander, Public Information Officer, at (850) 216-3854 or amy.alexander@usdoj.gov.

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