Orlando, Florida – In a shocking case of child exploitation, David Hardman, a 55-year-old Melbourne man, has been sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for sexually exploiting minors and forcibly assaulting a federal officer with a deadly weapon.
According to court documents, Hardman produced DVD videos of minors engaged in sexually explicit activity and sold the DVDs to buyers throughout the United States. During a period of seven years, Hardman exploited nine identified minors and made $346,664 from the sale of the DVDs.
On August 17, 2017, FBI agents and officers from the Melbourne Police Department executed a search warrant at Hardman’s home. Hardman hid in his bathroom with a firearm. When the officers entered the room, Hardman pointed the weapon at the officers as he tried to chamber a round. The officers tackled Hardman and retrieved the firearm.
Hardman pleaded guilty on April 26, 2018. The court also ordered him to forfeit the proceeds obtained from the sale of his residence, which he had used to commit the sexual exploitation offenses, and to forfeit the digital devices he used to commit his offenses.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Karen L. Gable.
It is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, 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.
For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
RELATED: Brevard Man Sentenced to 20 Years for Fentanyl & Meth Distribution
RELATED: Brevard Man Sentenced for Fentanyl, Meth Distribution
Related Federal Cases
- Matthew McLean Sentenced to Over 31 Years for Sexually Exploiting Minor · Minnesota
- GOP Rising Star Shuts Down VP Talk · Florida
- Wall Street Bailout: NY & CA Lose $2 Trillion · North Carolina
- Medicare Scam Lands Florida Man 5 Years · New York
- WV Biz Owner Cashed In on COVID Chaos · West Virginia
Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Category: Sex Crimes|Violent Crime|Child Abuse
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
ðŸâ€Â’ Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
US NewsUS NewsUS NewsUS News