Federal Bureau of Investigation - Norfolk Field Office

06/05/2023 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 06/06/2023 08:11

Newport News Man Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography Charges

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - A Newport News man pleaded guilty today to persuading a child to engage in unlawful sexual activity and distributing child sexual abuse material (CSAM).

According to court documents, Timothy Desain, Jr. 40, distributed CSAM over a social media platform. On October 26, 2021, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received a CyberTip from the social media platform and forwarded the tip to the Bedford County Sheriff's Office, who forwarded the tip to the FBI. A federal search warrant was issued for the home of Desain and electronic devices were seized. The search of his home also yielded containers of marijuana, scales, Garda deposit bags, and three firearms. During the investigation, it was uncovered that Desain exploited a minor. Desain also admitted to embezzling approximately $35,000 from Garda.

Desain pleaded guilty to coercion and enticement of a child and distribution of child pornography, and is scheduled to be sentenced on October 3. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Brian Dugan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI's Norfolk Field Office, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Elizabeth Wilson Hanes accepted the plea.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Lisa McKeel is prosecuting the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney's Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), 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.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:23-cr-23.