A partner at Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll, a law firm representing the DNC that is suing President Trump over January 6 on behalf of Democrats in Congress, was arrested for possessing child pornography.
Michael T. Dolce, a lawyer who is known for fighting child sex abuse, was arrested at his West Palm Beach apartment on March 15, after FBI agents say they caught him actively downloading child pornography to his laptop.
Detectives discovered nearly 2,000 images of child sex abuse on Michael Dolce’s devices.
According to the federal criminal complaint, investigators found child sex abuse images with girls as young as 5 years old, Local 10 reported.
Local 10 reported:
Federal prosecutors accused a 53-year-old South Florida attorney who represents victims of child sexual abuse of possessing child sexual abuse material himself.
According to prosecutors, who announced the arrest Wednesday, Michael T. Dolce is expected to appear in a West Palm Beach federal court Thursday where he is facing multiple child pornography charges.
According to his arrest affidavit, on March 15, FBI agents executed a search warrant at Dolce’s West Palm Beach apartment.
Detectives said they discovered Dolce actively downloading child sexual abuse material using peer-to-peer software.
Investigators said nearly 2,000 images and videos of child pornography were recovered from his devices.
According to a federal criminal complaint, the images and videos depicted girls as young as 5 years old.
Investigators said after confiscating Dolce’s phone, it was found unlocked with a background image featuring a female between the ages of 16 and 25 engaged in sexual intercourse with two men.
A spokesperson for the firm confirmed to Local 10 News that Dolce no longer works there.
“The firm is stunned and saddened by these appalling allegations,” the spokesperson said in a statement Wednesday night. “Michael Dolce was terminated and is no longer affiliated with the firm. We are focused on attending to the needs of our clients and staff, and continuing to cooperate fully with the investigation.”
More details from Miami Herald:
A West Palm Beach licensed attorney known for fighting against sexual abuse has been arrested after FBI agents say they caught him actively downloading child pornography to his laptop.
Michael Thomas Dolce, 53, who prosecutors say amassed over 2,000 child porn photos and videos in his electronic devices, was ordered to remain in jail Thursday during his initial appearance in a West Palm Beach federal courtroom.
According to court documents, FBI agents executing a search warrant on March 15 knocked on the door of Dolce’s West Palm Beach apartment, identified themselves and ordered him to come out. But when he didn’t respond, investigators say, agents forcefully breached the door.
Once inside the apartment, agents say they discovered that Dolce was actively downloading child porn to his Samsung laptop. Agents say they also found 1,997 photos and five videos depicting child porn, including several dozen photos of prepubescent girls as young as 5 in “varying states of undress.”
Leonard Scott Feuer, Dolce’s attorney, didn’t immediately respond to the Miami Herald’s emailed request for comment.
Dolce was a partner at Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll, PLLC in Palm Beach Gardens, where he led the law firm’s Sexual Abuse, Sex Trafficking, and Domestic Violence team, according to now-deleted entries in the company’s website. The Florida Bar’s website shows he graduated from Stetson University College of Law in 1994.
“The firm is stunned and saddened by these appalling allegations,” a spokesperson of Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll told the Herald. “Michael Dolce was terminated and is no longer affiliated with the firm. We are focused on attending to the needs of our clients and staff, and continuing to cooperate fully with the investigation.”
Dolce’s first formal appearance in court on the charges is set for April 13.
From a press release from the US Attorney’s Office from the Southern District of Florida:
A 53-year-old West Palm Beach licensed attorney has been arrested with possession of child pornography. Michael T. Dolce will appear in a West Palm Beach federal court tomorrow for his initial appearance.
According to the filed criminal complaint affidavit, on March 15, FBI agents executed a search warrant at Dolce’s West Palm Beach apartment. They discovered Dolce actively downloading child pornography using peer-2-peer software. Nearly 2000 images and videos of child pornography were recovered from his devices.
U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of the FBI, Miami Field Office, announced the charges.
FBI Miami, West Palm Beach Resident Agency investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory Schiller is prosecuting the case.
A complaint contains mere allegations, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
