Shannon T. Hanson, Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware, announced that Michael Kealty from Magnolia, Delaware, received a 10-year federal prison sentence. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Richard G. Andrews in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware.
Court documents revealed that Mr. Kealty met a 16-year-old girl online and coerced her over six months to produce sexually explicit images and videos. He threatened to make these images public if she did not comply with his demands. His online activities also included attempts to exploit other unidentified minors, including a 13-year-old.
Formerly a detective with the Smyrna Police Department, Mr. Kealty was charged in October 2023 with Distribution and Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material. He pleaded guilty on October 15, 2024, to an enhanced charge of Coercion/Enticement of a Minor, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison.
Acting U.S. Attorney Hanson stated, “Mr. Kealty betrayed his oath, his badge, and his community by exploiting the most vulnerable members of our community, our children." She added that the sentence "sends a message that no one is above the law" and commended the FBI for their role in bringing him to justice.
Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno of the FBI’s Baltimore Field Office commented on the case: “There is absolutely no tolerance for any actions that hurt a child. Kealty’s crimes are especially egregious considering he swore to protect our communities and children.”
The FBI investigated this case, while Assistant U.S. Attorney Briana Knox prosecuted it.
This case falls under Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse through coordinated efforts by federal, state, and local resources.