Kentucky Man sentenced to 34 years for producing and distributing child sexual abuse material while serving as the child’s caretaker

COVINGTON, Ky. - A Kentucky man will spend the next three decades behind bars for producing and distributing child sexual abuse material worldwide while serving as the child victim's caretaker.

On June 18, Chief U.S. District Judge David Bunning sentenced Leandro Davila III, 31, of Newport, to 408 months in prison. The sentencing followed a joint investigation by Homeland Security Investigations Northern Kentucky, HSI The Hague in the Netherlands, and the Campbell County Police Department.

"This sentencing reflects Homeland Security Investigations' dedication to protecting the most vulnerable members of our communities," said HSI Nashville acting Special Agent in Charge Dennis M. Fetting. "Through strong partnerships and relentless investigation, we ensure justice for victims and send a clear message to predators that crimes against children will not be tolerated, no matter where they operate."

Court records show Davila created child sexual abuse material involving the victim and shared it through the messaging platform Kik, repeatedly distributing the content to users worldwide. According to local media reports, prosecutors stated Davila abused a single mother's trust by abusing the girl during times he watched her while her mom was at work. Davila also distributed child sexual abuse material involving other minors.

Kik reported the activity to law enforcement, prompting the investigation in July 2025. Investigators linked the activity to Davila through account records, and a search of his Kik account uncovered at least 50 videos depicting children engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Records from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children showed multiple prior CyberTipline reports associated with Davila's IP address. The court imposed several sentencing enhancements, including one for abusing a position of trust.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Winslow prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

Know2Protect is a Department of Homeland Security national public awareness campaign that educates and empowers the public to prevent and combat online child sexual exploitation and abuse, explains how to report online enticement and victimization, and offers support resources for victims and survivors. To report an incident, you can call the Know2Protect Tipline at 1-833-591-KNOW (5669) or visit the NCMEC CyberTipline at https://report.cybertip.org.