An Oakland County freelance photographer who federal agents say is well-known in the gymnastics community has been sentenced to seven years in federal prison after he pleaded guilty to distribution of child pornography charges.
United States District Judge Sean F. Cox sentenced David Eric Yellen, 59, of Royal Oak to an 84-month prison term on Tuesday, followed by 10 years of supervised release after he gets out of prison. Yellen could have been sentenced to up to 20 years behind bars.
Authorities said Yellen had taken over 50,000 photographs of the bare feet of the children who attended the gyms and gymnastic events where he worked over the years.
“Yellen distributed and possessed an excessive amount of child pornography,” U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District Dawn Ison said in a news release. “Yesterday, he answered for his illegal acts and his egregious breach of trust.”
Federal prosecutors said Yellen’s involvement with child pornography came to light after the FBI discovered that he was distributing images of child pornography over the internet, using peer-to-peer file-sharing software.
FBI agents began an investigation into Yellen’s background and found he had worked as a photographer and videographer at several youth female gymnastics gymnastics academies and events in the past several years.
When agents searched Yellen’s house, they found he possessed over two million files of child pornography on his electronic devices, including the tens of thousands of photos showing the bare feet of child gymnasts, both male and female.
According to court records, an FBI agent downloaded 13 files and found two pictures of prepubescent females with their genitals exposed to the camera.
“Many of the files appear to depict real minor children engaged in sexually explicit conduct,” an FBI agent previously said in a criminal complaint.
Investigators found one file on Yellen’s computer titled “BFK,” which Yellen told them stood for “Barefoot Kids,” officials said.
The gymnastics academy where Yellen worked is not identified in court filings. But Facebook posts indicate Yellen shot photos and videos at various academies, including Michigan Elite Gymnastics Academy in Novi.
Michigan Elite Gymnastics Academy owner Kim Tanskanen released a statement last year indicating her gym and a second facility, Grand Blanc Gymnastics Company, had contracted with Yellen for photography services. That relationship lasted about 12 years before Yellen’s arrest
“Distribution of child sexual abuse materials by anyone, especially an individual who is entrusted to work with and around our youth, is intolerable and will be investigated by members from the FBI in Michigan,” said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan.
Yellen, who has no previous criminal record, pleaded guilty on May 22 to distribution of child pornography. He must also register as a sex offender.
His attorney, Margaret Raben, could not be immediately reached for comment.