Evergreen Reporter

Daniel Janke, a former high school teacher from Mankato, Minnesota, has been sentenced to six years in prison for distributing child sexual abuse material (CSAM). The sentencing was announced by Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick. Janke will also face five years of supervised release following his prison term and is required to pay $18,000 in special assessments benefiting minors impacted by such offenses.

Court documents revealed that Daniel John Janke, aged 54, knowingly obtained and distributed images and videos depicting the sexual exploitation of children. He was apprehended after an undercover law enforcement agent encountered him using the pseudonym "Jack Frost" on Kik, a social media platform. The agent and Janke exchanged messages between October 23, 2023, and November 1, 2023, during which Janke sent multiple CSAM images and a video. Forensic examination of Janke's electronic devices and Kik account confirmed his involvement in the collection and distribution of explicit images involving minor victims.

Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick remarked, "It’s hard to imagine someone working with children and then making the choice to exploit them on the internet. Teachers, coaches, daycare workers—it doesn’t matter who you are—my office will continue to prosecute predators in positions of trust to the fullest extent of the law."

Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of FBI Minneapolis stated, "This case is a stark reminder that child predators continue to operate in digital spaces, using technology to exploit children and share that abuse with others. The FBI is committed to protecting our most vulnerable and will continue to work with our partners to bring predators to justice."

Janke pleaded guilty on October 29, 2024, to one count of distribution of child sexual abuse material. The sentence was handed down yesterday in U.S. District Court by Judge John R. Tunheim, who highlighted the continuous impact of CSAM distribution, stating it "lives on forever."

The case was investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan L. Sing.