DePine Sentenced To Federal Prison On Child Porn Charges

June 15, 2019

An Escambia County man was sentenced Friday to federal prison on child pornography charges.

Michael Lee DePine, 62, was sentenced to 18 years for production of child pornography and five years, to be served concurrently, for possession of child pornography.  He previously pleaded guilty to the charges. When his sentence is complete, he will be on supervised release for five years, pay $10,000 in fines and register as a sex offender.

In December 2018, law enforcement officers received information from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that DePine and a local minor female were engaged in illicit sexual communications and activity via Facebook Messenger. After Homeland Security Investigations and the Pensacola Police Department geolocated DePine’s criminal activity to his Pensacola residence, law enforcement obtained a federal search warrant for the residence. In January 2019, law enforcement searched DePine’s residence. While the residential search was underway, DePine was located at his place of employment, Navy Federal Credit Union.

A forensic review of DePine’s seized digital media confirmed that he was in possession of multiple child pornographic images and videos of the minor victim. DePine produced these images and videos of the minor female in his bedroom at his residence on Lobelia Lane off West Nine Mile Road. The investigation revealed that DePine had been picking the minor female up at her residence in the middle of the night to bring her back to his residence and engage in sexual acts. DePine also provided the minor female with intimate apparel and electronic funds for her expenses.

Lawrence Keefe, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida said: “Tragically, the internet and social media can allow child predators a gateway to victimize children, the most innocent and vulnerable members of our communities. Together with our investigative partners, we will vigilantly pursue and prosecute those who hurt minors.”

“The harm this predator has caused to a young child is unimaginable to most of society,” said HSI Tampa Special Agent in Charge James C. Spero. “Thanks to the diligence of our special agents and the Pensacola Police Department, he will be held accountable for that harm, and we hope today’s guilty plea is a small step on the road to recovery for the young survivor of his crimes.”

After the arrest, a Navy Federal spokesperson said, “Navy Federal fully cooperated with investigators in this case.  As soon as we learned of this investigation, Navy Federal took immediate and appropriate action.”

The case was investigated by United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations, the Pensacola Police Department, and the North Florida internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

Comments

6 Responses to “DePine Sentenced To Federal Prison On Child Porn Charges”

  1. Brian on July 24th, 2019 8:24 pm

    I work for Navy Federal and am appalled by this. It is a stain on the many people that provide service to our military and veterans. On behalf on NFCU, I apologize and hope you do not judge our company based on an individual that is obviously not right.

  2. Jmoney on July 13th, 2019 8:39 pm

    So no charges for actually picking the minor up and having sex with her? Just for the pictures of the minor are you serious this creep should be serving a life sentence with no chance of parole.

  3. Beth on June 17th, 2019 10:04 am

    Hope he never gets out!! He will always prey on children!

  4. Rasheed Jackson on June 15th, 2019 2:02 pm

    This man should never be allowed out of prison.

  5. anne 1of2 on June 15th, 2019 11:14 am

    Geolocated, a new vocabulary word. I like that and it works.

  6. Wiliwonka on June 15th, 2019 5:15 am

    Hope he rots

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News