Danielle Sebenick, 27, of Glenside, PA, stood silently in a Philadelphia federal courtroom today before admitting she possessed and distributed child pornography—crimes committed while she worked at a swim school teaching children to stay safe in the water.
U.S. Attorney William M. McSwain confirmed Sebenick entered a guilty plea before the Honorable Petrese B. Tucker. The charges stem from her activity on the internet in November 2018, when she shared multiple videos of child sexual abuse online. At the time, she was employed at Kids First Swim School in Jenkintown, PA—a job centered on trust, safety, and instruction for young children.
The case exploded into federal view when a grand jury indicted Sebenick in January 2019. Evidence gathered by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) laid bare her digital trail—downloads, shares, and metadata that placed her at the center of a child exploitation network. Investigators traced uploads to her internet-connected devices, linking her directly to the distribution of illegal material depicting minors.
“Not only did this defendant commit the heinous crime of possessing and distributing child pornography, she did it while employed at a business that specializes in teaching children an important life skill,” said U.S. Attorney McSwain. “Parents and caregivers bring their children to facilities like this with the expectation that the staff will teach them and keep them safe; they shouldn’t be worried that their children are in the presence of a sexual predator.”
Marlon V. Miller, special agent in charge of HSI Philadelphia, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to hunting down those who exploit children. “Homeland Security Investigations will remain steadfast in our dedication to identify, investigate and apprehend those who abuse the most vulnerable of our society – our children,” Miller said. “Investigating and prosecuting the perpetrators of these horrendous crimes is one of our highest priorities.”
The investigation was led by Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant United States Attorney Kelly Harrell is prosecuting the case. Sebenick now faces mandatory minimum sentencing under federal law, with a judge expected to impose a lengthy prison term and lifetime supervision upon formal sentencing.
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Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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