Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the return by a grand jury of an indictment charging Kyle Dale Ritsema (35, Land O’ Lakes) with production, possession, and distribution of child pornography. If convicted on all counts, he faces a maximum penalty of 30 years and a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in federal prison for production of child pornography, 20 years in federal prison for each of two counts for distributing child pornography, and 10 years in federal prison for possessing child pornography.

According to the indictment, in or about March 2015, Ritsema employed, used, persuaded, induced, enticed, and coerced a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of that conduct. The indictment also states that he distributed two visual depictions of child pornography on or about March 21, 2015.

Government records indicate that Ritsema is an Assistant Principal at Cypress Creek Middle School, in Pasco County, Florida.

An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

This case is being investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank Murray.