St. Petersburg man Daniel Norman Pulley, aged 60, has been handed down a 35-year federal prison sentence for his crimes involving child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and interacting with minors in a sexually predatory way. U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle also imposed a lifetime term of supervised release after Pulley's incarceration, emphasizing the gravity of his offences. Pulley's conviction includes production of CSAM, attempted coercion and enticement of a minor, and possession of CSAM, among other charges.
According to details released by the U.S. Attorney's Office, Pulley, a registered sex offender from a 2009 conviction, utilized Snapchat to essentially manipulate a minor into producing CSAM for him. The prosecution presented evidence showing Pulley's explicit messages to the minor, which involved plans to commit sexual violence. In addition to this, law enforcement found CSAM on Pulley's cellphone that included images of young children.
The investigation, led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, resulted in the seizure of various electronics linked to Pulley's criminal activities. Items forfeited by order of the court include five cellphones, a PlayStation 4, and two flash drives. Assistant United States Attorneys Abigail K. King and Muriel Moore helmed the prosecution’s efforts to ensure justice for the victims and hold Pulley accountable for his actions.
Pulley's case is part of the broader Project Safe Childhood initiative, a nationwide campaign launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to more aggressively combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. The project aims to fully leverage federal, state, and local resources to not only apprehend and prosecute perpetrators like Pulley, but also to go on to identify and assist in the recovery of victims. Details of this case had been delayed due to a governmental shutdown, as noted in the release; the information came to light post the resumption of normal government functions.
