Rape pictures and racist conversations: Evidence against former Smyrna detective facing child porn charges

A former Smyrna police detective facing federal child pornography charges was caught on social media describing his love of rape, as well as using vulgar and racist language when referring to girls and women, according to federal court documents.

The documents, obtained by Delaware Online/The News Journal, detail conversations found on Michael Anthony Keleti’s social media account, including one in November in which he showed a social media person photos of girls Little girls from a football match where he was working overtime. Court documents also reveal a sexually charged conversation the 33-year-old had with a 16-year-old girl on his Snapchat account – an instant messaging app whose photos and messages are only available for up to 24 hours.

“I’m going to rape that bitch [racial slur] “As my ancestors did in North Carolina when America was great,” was one of the quotes attributed to Keleti in court documents.

Kealty’s Snapchat account, according to court documents, was found on two smartphones: his personal iPhone and a work iPhone.

The US Department of Justice announced this on Tuesday morning Keleti was facing charges of distribution and possession of child pornography.

Smyrna Police Lt. Brian Donner said the department was “shocked and appalled” upon reading the federal charging document filed against Keleti. After seven years with the Smyrna department, Donner said Tuesday that Kelty was fired after they learned of the charges against him.

“We learned about these details when the public learned about them and are still processing them,” Donner said. “There were certainly no signs of bias or bigotry during his tenure.”

The Smyrna Police Department fully cooperated with federal authorities in their investigation, at which time Kelty was stripped of all police powers and suspended, Donner said. The investigator was later fired due to the nature of the charges.

Smyrna Police Chief Torey M. James issued a statement late Tuesday Explaining how his department fully cooperated with federal authorities in their investigations, adding that the department suspended Keleti during the federal investigation.

“After receiving the full details of the investigation for the first time, Michael Quilty was immediately terminated from his employment with the Smyrna Police Department,” James said in his statement. “His actions do not reflect my values, the values ​​of my officers, or the law enforcement profession. Nor are they consistent with the Smyrna Police Department’s mission statement.”

James added that he is “saddened, heartbroken, disappointed and absolutely horrified by these allegations.”

“The fact that one of my officers would discredit our city and our department is disgusting,” he said.

Kelty’s preliminary and detention hearings are scheduled for Thursday afternoon in U.S. District Court in Wilmington.

How did the FBI find out?

The FBI received a report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children last month telling them about an August 7 report from Snapchat that one of its users, “jasonkyle221,” was in possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).

The FBI said she was a prepubescent girl engaging in a sexual act.

“The girl’s face is clearly visible, and she was therefore able to identify the girl as a known victim of the CSAM crimes,” FBI Special Agent Susan Ambridge Parris said in court documents.

Paris was able to obtain the IP address associated with jasonkyle221 and learned that it belonged to Kealty, who at the time was a Smyrna police detective corporal and an Air Force reserve sergeant.

Paris obtained arrest warrants on September 22 to search Keleti, his property and vehicles. Before Keleti invoked his right to an attorney, court documents say the officer confirmed that he and his wife were the only people with access to his home Internet network.

“Kelity stated that some of his family members and friends may have access to his home Internet network, but he was unable to name any specific individuals,” court documents say.

I searched my Snapchat account

After obtaining a search warrant, the FBI searched Kealty’s Snapchat account — which was accessed from his personal phone and a work phone — and found various personal photos of Kealty.

The FBI was also able to confirm child sexual abuse material that prompted information from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Additionally, the special agent found a child abuse image sent by Keleti on August 7 to another user that depicted a prepubescent female lying on a man’s lap. The girl is completely naked, except for the American flag socks on her feet. The male, who is also naked, rapes the girl with his hand in the photo.

“When submitting the photo, Kayalty asks the user, ‘You’re good at these types of photos,’ and the user replies, ‘What do you think? “We’re in the same shit,” according to court documents, which said Kayalti responded: “Haha just checking.”

Attention to girls from 14 to 16 years old

The Snapchat search also revealed conversations between Kealty and others, with court documents saying the former police detective expressed sexual interest in girls between the ages of 14 and 16.

In one example cited in the court document, Kelty allegedly had a conversation with another person in which she asked Kelty: “Weird question, how young do you think you are? Like how young are you?”

In this November 2022 conversation, court documents allege, Kelty said he liked younger girls, adding:

• “I’m working a high school football game where the OT was going to see if you wanted me to try to sneak you some pictures.”

• “It won’t be anything crazy but maybe some cute asses.”

While Kelly told the other person he never had sex or touched a girl in high school, court documents quoted him as saying he was “100% flirting.”

“These girls are very flirty and I’m not an ugly guy and I’m not that old so I definitely think I could get a few but it’s too risky!!!” Keleti responded, court documents said.

Sexual conversation with a 16 year old girl

The FBI also found conversations they say Keleti had with a 16-year-old girl from April 2021 to October 2021.

Excerpts provided by the FBI in court documents purport to show Keleti asking the girl various questions of a sexual nature, including asking her to send pictures of her breasts and vagina and whether a third person would watch him have sex with the girl. .

When the girl said she was uncomfortable sending him photos of her body, court documents said Quilty told her, “Then show me some pictures of friends or your sister or someone else because you don’t want me to do that.” [expletive] To take your pictures as I want.”

When the girl told him she was a virgin, court documents said, Kelty asked where she lived so he could “come change” that.

At the end of the excerpts, court documents show, Kelty was calling himself “daddy,” as was the girl.

According to court documents, Kelly asked the girl not to tell anyone about their conversations.

Racist and vulgar language

A search of his Snapchat account also found disturbing language that the FBI said indicated he “liked” rape and used racist and vulgar language when referring to women and girls.

In the three examples provided by the FBI, Keleti uses derogatory language about black and Latina women. He also pointed out how his ancestors used to rape people.

Separate suit for excessive force

Kelly is one of three Smyrna police officers named in a lawsuit filed by Nelson Henry last year.

The lawsuit, also filed in federal court, alleges that Kelty was among several Smyrna officers who responded to a domestic disturbance in the town of about 13,500 people on April 28, 2020. The disturbance was between Henry and the mother of his children.

The officers separated Henry and the mother of his children to speak to each of them, according to the lawsuit.

According to the lawsuit, officers decided not to arrest anyone, but asked Henry to leave the house for the night.

Henry was outside the home and was trying to call his mother to pick him up, according to the lawsuit. The lawsuit alleges that the mother, who was recovering from surgery, was unable to take Henry.

When Henry told the officers about his ordeal, several officers tried to book him a hotel room and worked to raise money because he did not have enough to pay for the room. That’s when another officer arrived and demanded that Henry call his mother and leave.

According to the lawsuit, Henry called his mother and asked if someone could pick him up, adding that the police officer who had just arrived was an “officer.” [expletive]”.

That officer immediately tackled Henry to the ground, injuring him in the process, the suit alleges.

That’s when the lawsuit said Quilty put his knee on Henry’s neck. Henry was facedown at the time, “reminiscent of how George Floyd was killed in police custody,” according to the lawsuit.

Henry was taken to the Smyrna Police Department where the lawsuit said he was charged with six counts, including endangering the welfare of a child, resisting arrest, and offensive touching.

The lawsuit alleges this was retaliation for using an expletive to describe the officer.

Henry’s lawsuit claims he was deprived of his constitutional rights, including freedom from excessive use of force and access to due process and equal protection. The lawsuit, which also claims he was assaulted by Kelty and two other officers, seeks compensatory damages, punitive damages and attorneys’ fees, among other things.

Reporter Xerxes Wilson contributed to this report.

Send tips or story ideas to Esteban Parra at (302) 324-2299 or eparra@delawareonline.com.

This article originally appeared in the Delaware News Journal: Ex-Smyrna Detective Found With Child Rape Porn: Court Documents