United States of America v. David Tang

Savannah, Georgie criminal defense production of child porn lawyer



David Tang, 34, of Port Wentworth, was charged with Production of Child Pornography



“The most vulnerable members of our community are safer today because David Tang and his co-defendants are locked away,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “We’re grateful for those who reported these horrific crimes, and for the law enforcement agencies who brought these predators to justice.”



As described in court documents and testimony, Tang and a co-defendant, Melanie Smith, a/k/a “Melanie Small,” 31, of Rincon, Ga., produced sexually explicit videos of minor children that were later shared with others by Holly Clayton, 34, of Port Wentworth, Ga. Smith later pled guilty to Production of Child Pornography and is serving a 360-month sentence in federal prison, while Clayton pled guilty to Distribution of Child Pornography and is serving a 144-month federal prison sentence.



All three defendants also face related state charges.



“This sentencing not only removes a serial predator from our community, it also sends a message to others engaged in this filth that we are serious about finding, arresting and prosecuting them,” said Katrina W. Berger, who oversees Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) operations in Georgia and Alabama.



The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Savannah Police Department and the Effingham County Sheriff’s Office, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Marcela C. Mateo and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Katelyn Semales.



18 U.S.C. 2251(b) Production of Child Pornography by a Parent or Guardian

Defendant was sentenced to 350 months in prison and also was ordered to pay $2 million in restitution to the victims in the case, and after completion of his prison term must serve 20 years on supervised release and register as a sex offender. There is no parole in the federal system.