Below is an official statement from the US Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida regarding a child exploitation case.
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday has sentenced Brett Reichold (35, Clearwater) to 24 years and 4 months in federal prison for enticing a minor to engage in sexual activity and production and possession of child sexual abuse material. Reichold pleaded guilty on January 29, 2025.
According to court documents, Reichold texted and used social media to communicate with approximately 12 minor females. Reichold offered the victims money, alcohol, and marijuana in exchange for sexually explicit photos and videos of themselves. On one occasion, Reichold met a minor in person and offered 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,” said Homeland Security Investigations Tampa Assistant Special Agent in Charge Kristopher Pagitt. “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.”
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the Clearwater Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ross Roberts.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice 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 (CEOS), 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.
