Former Gymnastics Photographer Sentenced for Child Pornography

David Eric Yellen, a 59-year-old gymnastics photographer from Royal Oak, Michigan, has been sentenced to seven years in federal prison for distributing child pornography, followed by ten years of supervised release. His case stemmed from an FBI investigation that uncovered over two million files of child pornography on his devices and 50,000 photographs of children's bare feet taken during gymnastics events. Yellen pleaded guilty to the charges in May 2024, and during the investigation, he admitted to possessing child pornography but denied distributing it. U.S. Attorney Dawn Ison condemned Yellen's actions as an egregious breach of trust, emphasizing the seriousness of his crimes given his role around children. Although prosecutors sought a longer sentence of nearly 16 years, the court ultimately decided on seven years. Yellen will also be required to register as a sex offender upon his release.