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A former spokesman for Department of Children and Families pleaded guilty Wednesday to one count of production of child pornography.
A former spokesman for Department of Children and Families pleaded guilty Wednesday to one count of production of child pornography.
Albert Andre Zimmerman, 41, formerly of Tallahassee and Lakeland, faces a maximum prison sentence of 30 years, according to a plea agreement presented in federal court in Tampa at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday.
Steve Cole, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Tampa, said Zimmerman will be sentenced within the next three months.
“He remains in custody until his sentencing, which should be in the next 60 to 90 days,” Cole said, adding the minimum sentence is 15 years behind bars.
Cole said officials will conduct a pre-sentencing investigation, which will look to see if he has a prior criminal record. At the sentencing hearing a judge will determine a sentence.
Zimmerman was arrested in February 2008 after authorities say he became friendly with six underage males. One was under the care of the Department of Children and Families, Cole said.
Cole’s press release states that Zimmerman persuaded minors “to engage in sexually explicit conduct and then send him pictures of the conduct via email.“
At times, Zimmerman even instructed the minors on how to pose for the photos, according the case file. Zimmerman reportedly paid some of the minors for their pictures.
The case was investigated as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative created in 2006 that’s aimed at combatting the sexual exploitation of children.
Zimmerman, who was immediately fired as a DCF spokesman in connection with the Hillsborough County cases, was original charged with eight counts of using a child in a sexual performance.
Those eight counts would have carried a sentence of 120 years in prison if Zimmerman were convicted.
https://www.ocala.com/article/LK/20090121/News/604241775/OS/