Florida DCF official pleads guilty to child exploitation (www.protect.org)

Florida DCF official pleads guilty to child exploitation

Originally published by www.protect.org, May 9, 2009

The former spokesperson for Florida’s Department of Children and
Families has pleaded guilty to producing child pornography, reportedly
for sale overseas.

Albert Andre Zimmerman, 41, exploited at least six minors, including at least one who was in the care of his agency. A statement released by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) says in part:

“According to the plea agreement, from October 2004 through December 2007, Zimmerman persuaded six teenage boys in Hillsborough and Orange counties to engage in sexually explicit conduct and to email him pictures of their behavior. Zimmerman also offered to pay, and in some cases did pay, the boys for the images. He also claimed he was selling the images to a third party who would then distribute those images overseas. At times, Zimmerman provided instruction to the boys concerning the poses they should assume for the photos. Zimmerman, formerly of Tallahassee and Lakeland, was arrested on a federal complaint on February 11, 2008, and was indicted on April 16, 2008.”

Zimmerman is also a former television reporter.