COVINGTON, KY- US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced the sentencing of a Kentucky man in connection with producing and distributing child sexual abuse material worldwide while serving as the victim’s caretaker.
In a news release, the agency wrote that Leandro Davila III, 31, of Newport, Kentucky, was sentenced to 408 months or 34 years behind bars by Chief U.S. District Judge David Bunning. The prison sentence 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 the 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.”
According to court records, Davila created child sexual abuse materials involving the young victim and distributed it through the messaging platform Kik, a hotbed of bizarre sexually oriented material. Local media reports showed that according to prosecutors, Davila, unbeknownst to a trusting single mother, abused the girl during times he watched her while mom worked. Davila also distributed child sexual abuse material involving other minor children.
Kik reported the activity to law enforcement officials in July 2025, prompting the wide-ranging investigation. Davila was implicated after investigators were able to link the sexual abuse material to Davila through account records, which showed at least 50 videos depicting children engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) secured records that showed multiple CyberTipline reports associated with Davila’s IP address. Due to Davila’s position as a caretaker of the child victim, the court added several sentencing enhancements, including abusing a position of trust.
The case was prosecuted on behalf of the government by U.S. Attorney Kyle Winslow.
The Department of Homeland Security facilitates a program called Know2Protect, a national public awareness campaign that educates and empowers the public to prevent and combat online child sexual exploitation and abuse, while explaining how to report online enticement and victimization. The campaign also provides support resources for victims and survivors.
To report any such incidents, people can call the Know2Protect Tipline at 1-833-591 KNOW (5669) or visit the NCMEC CyberTipline at https://report.cybertip.org.
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