Former children's swim school employee pleads guilty to child pornography charges
PHILADELPHIA — On Wednesday, May 8, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, announced that a Glenside, Pennsylvania, woman, pleaded guilty to the crimes of possession and distribution of child pornography, following an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Philadelphia investigation.
Danielle Sebenick, 27, was indicted by a federal grand jury in January of 2019 as a result of her trafficking in videos of child pornography on the Internet during November of 2018, while she was employed at the Kids First Swim School in Jenkintown.
“Homeland Security Investigations will remain steadfast in our dedication to identify, investigate and apprehend those who abuse the most vulnerable of our society – our children,” said Marlon V. Miller, special agent in charge of HSI Philadelphia. “Investigating and prosecuting the perpetrators of these horrendous crimes is one of our highest priorities and HSI will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to bring these criminals to justice.”
“Not only did this defendant commit the heinous crime of possessing and distributing child pornography, she did it while employed at a business that specializes in teaching children an important life skill,” said U.S. Attorney McSwain. “Parents and caregivers bring their children to facilities like this with the expectation that the staff will teach them and keep them safe; they shouldn’t be worried that their children are in the presence of a sexual predator.”
It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kelly Harrell.
This investigation was conducted under HSI’s Operation Predator, an international initiative to protect children from sexual predators. Since the launch of Operation Predator in 2003, HSI has arrested more than 19,000 individuals for crimes against children, including the production and distribution of online child exploitation material, traveling overseas for sex with minors, and sex trafficking of children. In fiscal year 2018, more than 3,000 (3,191) child predators were arrested by HSI special agents under this initiative and more than 850 (859) victims identified or rescued.
HSI encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free Tip Line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE or by completing its online tip form. Both are staffed around the clock by investigators. From outside the U.S. and Canada, callers should dial 802-872-6199. Hearing impaired users can call TTY 802-872-6196.
Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, an Operation Predator partner, via its toll-free 24-hour hotline, 1-800-THE-LOST.
HSI is a founding member of the Virtual Global Taskforce, an international alliance of law enforcement agencies and private industry sector partners working together to prevent and deter online child sexual abuse.
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