Iowa Man Found Guilty of Distributing Child Pornography to a Panama City Resident

Tallahassee, Florida - Dalvert Encarnacion Francisco, 37, of Dubuque, Iowa, has been found guilty by a federal jury in Tallahassee of one count of distribution of child pornography. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the guilty verdict.

U.S. Attorney Heekin said: "Thanks to the incredible investigative work of our state and federal law enforcement partners, this depraved individual was caught and his days of distributing child sexual abuse material are over. It remains one of my office's highest priorities to protect our kids from predators like this defendant who seek to sexually exploit and victimize innocent children."

During the three-day jury trial, court records and evidence showed that the Bay County Sheriff's Office was investigating multiple child sexual abuse material tips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. During that investigation, law enforcement discovered the defendant distributed child pornography to the target of the tips, who resided in the Panama City area. With the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, further investigation revealed the defendant requested online payments for the child sexual abuse material he distributed. The jury returned a verdict of guilty.

Francisco faces a minimum mandatory sentence of five years' imprisonment, and up to 20 years' imprisonment.

This case was investigated by the Bay County Sheriff's Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Meredith L. Steer.

Sentencing is scheduled for July 24, 2026, at Tallahassee, Florida before United States District Judge Mark E. Walker.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice and led by the U.S. Attorney's Offices and the Criminal Divisions Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), it marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.projectsafechildhood.govLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the "external link" icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link..

The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation's principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of FloridaLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the "external link" icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. website. For more information about the United States Attorney's Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.