Tampa Hospital Employee Arrested for Child Pornography, Filmed Himself Inside Operating Rooms
Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office uncovers disturbing criminal conduct inside medical facility
TAMPA — A staff member at Tampa General Hospital has been arrested and charged with possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material after investigators uncovered a disturbing cache of images, videos, and evidence of inappropriate conduct inside the hospital itself.
David Farber, 42, was taken into custody Tuesday by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. Detectives say Farber had 79 files depicting child exploitation, including children under the age of five. In addition to the illicit content, deputies discovered that Farber had filmed himself in operating rooms and patient care areas — footage he then shared with others through social media.
Material may trigger enhanced charges
The material recovered by law enforcement was described as explicit and severe. According to the sheriff’s office, some of the content may lead to enhanced felony penalties due to the age of the victims and the graphic nature of the abuse.
Investigators confirmed the existence of self-shot footage by Farber taken inside Tampa General Hospital. The videos, according to HCSO, show Farber in restricted medical areas engaging in inappropriate conduct unrelated to patient care. Officials did not say whether patients were present or captured in the videos, but the hospital setting has raised alarms.
“This arrest is both disturbing and appalling,” said Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister. “The exploitation of innocent children is one of the most heinous crimes imaginable. And to learn this suspect had access to vulnerable individuals while employed in a healthcare setting makes his actions even more reprehensible. We will ensure he is held fully accountable under the law.”
Hospital distances itself from suspect
Tampa General Hospital issued a short public statement confirming that Farber is no longer active at the facility.
“In accordance with our policy, the individual is not currently working at our facilities. We are cooperating with authorities on the investigation,” the hospital stated.
TGH has not disclosed how long Farber was employed, what his job responsibilities were, or how he gained unsupervised access to sensitive medical areas.
Broader context and growing concern
The arrest comes amid a statewide uptick in child pornography cases. According to Florida Department of Law Enforcement, digital exploitation cases have risen sharply since 2021, with encrypted social media apps and private cloud storage playing a central role in the spread of illicit content. Tampa police have also reported an increase in arrests related to child pornography in the past year.
The fact that this case intersects with a hospital — a trusted institution tasked with caring for the most vulnerable — makes it particularly egregious. It also raises questions about how institutions vet, monitor, and restrict employee access to high-security areas.
Farber currently faces 79 felony charges. Authorities say the investigation is ongoing and that additional charges are likely. The sheriff’s office is continuing to search for anyone who may have received content directly from Farber or may have knowledge of other misconduct.
This case adds to the growing debate about the intersection of digital crime, institutional failure, and the urgent need for stronger internal safeguards — particularly in spaces where the public assumes safety is guaranteed.
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