A Sanford man has pleaded guilty to producing and receiving child pornography, federal authorities announced.
Douglas Scheels, 43, of Sanford, entered his guilty plea in federal court on charges stemming from a 2014-2015 investigation, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida said.
According to the plea agreement, Scheels sought out and exploited several minor victims, including two minors from his neighborhood who were enticed into producing child pornography. He also used online communications to persuade a minor to send him explicit photos and communicated with other minors for the same purpose.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office, and the Sanford Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Bishop Ravenel is prosecuting the case.
Scheels faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years, up to 30 years, in federal prison for the production charge and a mandatory minimum of 5 years, up to 20 years, for the receipt charge. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
This case is another example of the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, which is being combated through the nationwide initiative Project Safe Childhood, launched in May 2006 by the Justice Department. Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.
Douglas Scheels, a resident of Sanford, was arrested on January 11, 2015. His crime took place from at least June 2014, through his arrest.
The defendant’s exact criminal charges are producing and receiving child pornography. He will face prison time for the crime.
Related Federal Cases
- Rene Pedrosa, Child Pornography Exploitation, Florida 2023 · Florida
- Carlos Blanco, Child Pornography Charges, Florida 2024 · Florida
- German Oliver Jose Martin, Producing Child Pornography, Florida 2023 · Florida
- Rene Pedrosa, Receiving Child Pornography, Florida 2024 · Florida
- James Freeman, Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess Child Pornography, Florida 2009 · Florida
Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
ðŸâ€Â’ Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
Sex CrimesSex CrimesSex CrimesSex Crimes