Bear Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Second Conviction Involving Child Sexual Abuse Material

Wilmington, Del. - A Delaware resident was sentenced on March 25, 2024, to 10 years in federal prison for possessing child sexual abuse material ("CSAM"), announced David C. Weiss, U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware. Following his time in prison, he will spend 10 years on federal supervised release. Chief U.S. District Judge Colm F. Connolly pronounced the sentence.

According to court documents, a task force consisting of Homeland Security Investigations, the Delaware State Police, and Delaware Internet Crimes Against Children investigated James Pickett, 26, of Bear, Delaware, after receiving a cyber tip indicating he uploaded a video of CSAM to the Internet in August 2021. Law enforcement later found approximately 4,468 media files suspected to contain CSAM on Pickett's electronic devices. The files found on Pickett's devices included images and videos of prepubescent minors and material portraying sadistic or masochistic conduct and other depictions of violence. Pickett had previously been convicted in October 2019 in the State of Delaware for dealing in CSAM and served two years in prison.

U.S. Attorney Weiss stated, "Our office is dedicated to protecting children and prosecuting those engaging in the sexual exploitation of minors through the heinous shadow industry that produces, distributes, and collects child sexual abuse material. I thank Homeland Security Investigations and our Delaware law enforcement partners who tirelessly pursued this case."

"HSI is at the forefront in the fight to end child sexual exploitation. Our global reach, significant Agent experience and extensive knowledge of the cyber domain, allow us to rapidly develop cases such as the one against James Pickett," said Special Agent in Charge of HSI Philadelphia William S. Walker. "Our outstanding relationship with the Delaware State Police and the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Delaware has garnered incredible success and we know that our cooperation will continue to do so as we work to protect our children."

Homeland Security Investigations, the Delaware State Police, and the Delaware Internet Crimes Against Children investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Briana Knox and Bryan C. Williamson prosecuted this case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case No. 22-CR-1-CFC.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the U.S. Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorney's Offices across the country and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section of the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.