TUCSON, Ariz. — A local area man was indicted last week on 45 counts of child exploitation material as a result of a Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) case.
The 20-count indictment of David Berry Garmarnik, 46, of Tucson, includes Attempted Production of Child Pornography, 20 counts of Attempted Enticement and Coercion of a Minor, and five counts of Receipt of Child Pornography.
The indictment alleges that in July 2024, Garmarnik was identified as a suspect in a child exploitation investigation. Special agents with HSI developed evidence that Garmarnik was using Skype to conduct live streaming shows of child sexual abuse being committed in the Philippines. Garmarnik allegedly sent payments to sex traffickers via money service wire transfers, and the sex traffickers and Garmarnik would then conduct the live sex shows. Since 2017, Garmarnik allegedly participated in dozens of shows by directing traffickers on how to sexually abuse children.
Attempted Production of Child Pornography carries a sentence of between 15 and 30 years in prison for each count; Attempted Enticement and Coercion of a Minor carries a sentence of between 10 years to life in prison for each count; and Receipt of Child Pornography carries a sentence of between 5 and 20 years in prison for each count. Each offense also carries a fine of up to $250,000 and at least five years to life of supervised release.
An indictment is simply a method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
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. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood 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.
Assistant United States Attorney Nathaniel J. Walters, District of Arizona, Tucson, is handling the prosecution.
HSI is a global leader in the fight against child exploitation. Last year, HSI special agents dedicated 1.2 million case hours toward investigating child exploitation. This heinous crime harms the most vulnerable in our society: our kids. As technology evolves and more people have access to the internet, children are at a greater risk than ever. HSI’s special agents and analysts around the world are dedicated to countering this threat.
Report suspected child exploitation to the HSI Tip Line at 1-877-4-HSI-TIP or through the CyberTipline on the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children's website.