Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Vigiland D’Haiti (40, Winter Garden) with one count of possessing images and videos of children being sexually exploited, one count of production of child sexual abuse images and videos, and one count of enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity. D’Haiti is a former high school teacher and cheerleading coach who owned a cheerleading gym in Clermont, Florida. If convicted, D’Haiti faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison on the possession count, a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years, up to 30 years, in federal prison on the production count, and a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years, and up to life, in federal prison on the enticement count. D’Haiti also faces a potential lifetime term of supervised release. The United States intends to forfeit D’Haiti’s cellphone, which is alleged to have facilitated the charged offenses.
According to the indictment, on May 27, 2022, D’Haiti knowingly possessed images and videos of a minor victim (“Victim 1”) being sexually exploited. Also, in or around June 2021, D’Haiti knowingly produced child abuse videos and images of Victim 1. Additionally, from July 2, 2014, through December 5, 2014, D’Haiti knowingly persuaded, induced, enticed, and coerced another minor victim (“Victim 2”) to engage in sexual activity.
D’Haiti was arrested on March 27, 2022, at his home for violations of Florida law, including lewd and lascivious molestation of minors. Incident to his arrest, D’Haiti’s cellphone was seized and a search warrant for this device was obtained. Forensic analyses of the cellphone revealed that it contained a Private Photo Vault application. Inside the Private Photo Vault, D’Haiti stored images and videos of children being sexually exploited, including images of minor victims who were personally known to D’Haiti through the cheerleading gym that he owned in Clermont. D’Haiti’s state charges for molestation are pending.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
Anyone who is or who knows a potential victim in this case, or who has any information regarding this or any other investigation, should contact Homeland Security Investigations toll-free Tip Line at 1-866-DHS-2423 or by completing its online tip form found at https://www.ice.gov/webform/ice-tip-form.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, together with the Clermont Police Department and the Winter Garden Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kara M. Wick.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.