A Clearwater man has been handed a hefty sentence of over two decades for child exploitation offenses, U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday sentenced Brett Reichold to 24 years and 4 months in federal prison after he pleaded guilty on January 29, to charges of enticing a minor to engage in sexual activity and the production and possession of child sexual abuse material, as reported by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida.
Documents from the court reveal an unsettling pattern where Reichold used text messaging and social media platforms to communicate with approximately 12 minor females he offered them money, alcohol, and marijuana in exchange for sexually explicit photos and videos, on one occasion Reichold even took it a step further by meeting with a minor in person and proposing to pay her for sex "The sentencing of Brett Reichold sends a strong message to those that engage in sexual exploitation of children and use social media to target their victims, that we will find them and hold them accountable for their actions," Homeland Security Investigations Tampa Assistant Special Agent in Charge Kristopher Pagitt was quoted in a statement obtained by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida.
The investigation was a coordinated effort involving Homeland Security Investigations and the Clearwater Police Department, which culminated in a successful prosecution by Assistant United States Attorney Ross Roberts;
Assistant Special Agent in Charge Pagitt, in emphasizing the dedication to protecting children from exploitation, vowed, "HSI alongside our partners at the Clearwater Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida vow to continue protecting our most vulnerable from becoming lifetime victims," as per the U.S. Attorney’s Office press release.
