IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA

GAINESVILLE DIVISION

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

CASE No: 1:20CR35 –AW
v.

STEVEN MICHAEL KRPATA

/

STATEMENT OF FACTS

The following Statement of Facts is entered into by and between

STEVEN MICHAEL KRPATA as Defendant, Assistant Federal Public

Defender Darren Johnson as attorney for Defendant, and the United States

Attorney for the Northern District of Florida:

On October 15, 2008, a search warrant was executed at the residence of

Steven Michael KRPATA in the Northern District of Florida. Child

pornography was found at the residence and KRPATA was arrested.

KRPATA was federally indicted and convicted for receipt and possession of

child pornography. He was sentenced to a term of imprisonment followed by 5

years supervised release.

While serving his term of supervision, a probation officer determined

that KRPATA violated his conditions which resulted in an arrest warrant. U.S.

Probation had monitored KRPATA’s computer activity as part of his release

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conditions. A probation officer could see that KRPATA was accessing what

appeared to be recorded videos of women, including at least one child, using

the restroom at his workplace, “83 West” restaurant in Cedar Key, Florida. On

August 3, 2020, KYRPATA was arrested at his residence by federal officers

without incident. The probation office seized KRPATA’s computer, cell

phone, multiple DVDs, a “Cop Cam” video recording device, and several SD

cards.

After the arrest, officers responded to 83 West to further investigate. The

owner of 83 West consented to a search of the restrooms. Officers were able to

identify the stall where the hidden camera was believed to have been

previously placed. It was clear that the camera had previously been placed in

an air conditioning vent in the handicap stall in the women’s restroom. No

cameras were found in any of the restrooms.

Forensic reviews of KRPATA’s computer, cell phone, Cop Cam, and

SD cards were conducted. The Cop Cam, which KRPATA had placed in the

air vent of the women’s restroom at his employment site, had been used to

video record various women and children using the restroom facility at the

restaurant. The camera angle captured women and children using the restroom

from the front of the toilet. The women and children’s genitalia were captured

on the videos. Images were also created of women and children changing

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clothes, which captured them fully nude or partially nude on the recordings.

Examination of the Galaxy laptop with Hitachi hard drive (manufactured in

Malaysia) revealed that it had been used to view the videos created by the Cop

Cam. There is one image on the lap top of KYRPATA’s face as he placed the

camera in the restroom, dated July 27, 2018.

Of the files located, 14 files are of female children of prepubescent age,

estimated to be between the ages of 4 and 10. There is at least one

prepubescent boy. The files indicated that they were recorded on numerous

days and the images are date stamped. The videos were created between July

27, 2018 and August 3, 2020. All the images located have dates after the date

of the image of KRPATA.

The images were created using the Cop Cam device and stored onto a 32

gigabyte SD card. The Cop Cam device and SD card were manufactured and

distributed into the United States from China.

ELEMENTS

Federal law makes it a crime for anyone to produce or attempt to

produce a depiction of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct, in

violation of Title 18 U.S.C. § 2251(a).

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 A defendant can be found guilty of this offense if all the following facts

are proven beyond a reasonable doubt:

(1) Defendant used or induced, or attempted to use and induce, a minor to

engage in sexually explicit conduct;

(2) Defendant did so for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of the
conduct; and

(3) The depiction was produced, or attempted to be produced, using materials

that have been mailed, shipped, and transported in and affecting interstate
and foreign commerce by any means.

LAWRENCE KEEFE
United States Attorney

_______________________
DARREN JOHNSON F.T. WILLIAMS
Attorney for Defendant Florida Bar No. 936219
Assistant United States Attorney
Northern District of Florida
401 SE 1st Ave., Suite 211
Gainesville, FL 32601
Ph. 352.378.0996
Date frank.williams@usdoj.gov

_____________________
STEVEN MICHAEL KRPATA Date
Defendant

_________________________
Date