Former Elementary School Principal Sentenced to 97 Months in Prison for Possessing Child Pornography

Fort Lauderdale, Florida – A federal judge today sentenced Frank Richard Beyer (a/k/a “Rick Beyer”), 75, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to 97 months in prison for possessing child pornography that included images of boys under age 12 engaged in sex acts and exposing their genitals.  Prior to living in Florida, Beyer lived in New York, where he taught sixth grade and was an elementary school principal.      

Ariana Fajardo Orshan, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and George L. Piro, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office, made the announcement.

According to court records, law enforcement received multiple cyber tips that an on-line user had uploaded child pornography to internet platforms. The cybertips included an email address that led law enforcement officers to Beyer. On November 20, 2019, officers executed a search warrant at Beyer’s home. They found external digital storage devices that contained multiple pictures and videos of children (some under age 12) engaging in explicit sexual conduct with other children or adults. Law enforcement later forensically examined Beyer’s devices, finding almost 4,000 pictures and over 1,200 videos of child pornography. They also discovered that Beyer communicated with at least one person on an encrypted chat program and distributed child pornography to that person.

On March 5, 2020, Beyer pled guilty to possessing child pornography.

U.S. Attorney Fajardo Orshan commended the investigative efforts of FBI, Broward County Sheriff’s Office, and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ajay Alexander prosecuted this case.