A Sarasota doctor has been indicted and faces federal charges after law enforcement officials claim he solicited child pornography from a 14-year-old girl online. Pete Supan, a 38-year-old internal medicine physician, was arrested and charged with transmission of harmful materials and production of child sexual abuse material, according to the Manatee County Sheriff's Office. The arrest followed an investigation that began with a tip about a suspicious conversation on the social media platform Reddit. Police in Utah, where the minor resides, were also involved in the case.
As reported by abc Action News, after receiving a cyber tip on Oct. 28, 2024, authorities discovered the chats between Supan and the underage girl, containing both solicitations for nude images and explicit sexual messages. Supan had posed as a 19-year-old during the exchanges with the teenager. When interviewed by detectives, investigating the case found that Supan admitted to sending the explicit photos of himself to the minor. The detectives determined that although Supan was soliciting nude photos from the girl online, he had no physical access to children and there was no evidence he had attempted to meet with any minors.
Officials executed a search warrant at Supan's Lakewood Ranch home on Spring Gate Trail. The search resulted in the seizure of multiple devices for further forensic examination, as per a WFLA news release. The seized devices led to further evidence supporting the charges brought against Supan. The collaborative effort between local authorities, the FBI, and the U.S. Attorney's Office brought the case to the federal level due to the interstate nature of the crime.
Yesterday, Supan was arrested in Sarasota, and as laid out by Bradenton Herald, subsequently transferred to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service in Tampa.
