WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – A 53-year-old South Florida attorney who previously represented sufferers of child sexual abuse pleaded guilty Wednesday in federal courtroom to ownership of child pornography.
According to prosecutors, who introduced the arrest on March 29, Michael T. Dolce admitted to downloading child pornography to his non-public pc at his West Palm Beach condominium.
According to his arrest affidavit, on March 15, FBI brokers achieved a seek warrant at Dolce’s West Palm Beach condominium.
Detectives mentioned they came upon Dolce actively downloading child sexual abuse subject matter the use of peer-to-peer instrument.
Investigators mentioned nearly 2,000 images and movies of child pornography had been recovered from his units.
According to a federal prison criticism, the images and movies depicted ladies as younger as 5 years previous.
Investigators mentioned after confiscating Dolce’s telephone, it used to be discovered unlocked with a background symbol that includes a feminine between the ages of 16 and 25 engaged in sexual sex with two males.
According to his LinkedIn profile, which used to be deleted after the allegations, Dolce used to be prior to now a spouse at Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll in Palm Beach Gardens and head of the company’s sexual abuse, intercourse trafficking, and home abuse group.
“He (Dolce) has achieved multiple multi-million-dollar trial verdicts for his clients, as well as numerous settlements for survivors of sexual crimes, including child and adult victims, and adult survivors of child sexual abuse. Michael also played a pivotal role in helping to pass Florida’s 2010 legislation that repealed all statutes of limitation for civil and criminal prosecution of child sexual abuse,” his “about” segment on LinkedIn learn.
A spokesperson for the company showed to Local 10 News that Dolce used to be fired after the allegations.
“The firm is stunned and saddened by these appalling allegations,” the spokesperson mentioned in a remark again in March. “Michael Dolce was terminated and is no longer affiliated with the firm. We are focused on attending to the needs of our clients and staff, and continuing to cooperate fully with the investigation.”
Prosecutors mentioned Dolce’s sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 18 at 10:30 a.m. sooner than U.S. District Judge Donald M. Middlebrooks.
He faces up to twenty years in jail, lifetime supervised liberate and fee of restitution to his sufferers, in accordance to the Department of Justice.
Officials mentioned the costs had been led to as section of Project Safe Childhood, a national initiative introduced by means of the DOJ in 2006 to battle the rising epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.
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