CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Roland Vance Watson, 55, of Hickory, N.C., has been sentenced to 40 years in prison for producing child pornography and committing a felony involving a minor while required to register as a sex offender. U.S. Attorney Dena J. King announced the sentencing, which also included a lifetime of supervised release and registration as a sex offender after release from prison.

The investigation, led by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Hickory Police Department, began in January 2023 after law enforcement received a tip from a concerned adult about Watson’s suspicious activity. Court documents show that between August 2021 and February 2023, Watson sexually abused three minor females on multiple occasions.

Analysts found multiple sexually explicit text messages between Watson and one of the minors, with Watson inducing the minor to send him explicit images and videos in exchange for gifts and candy. Three cell phones seized from Watson’s home were forensically analyzed and contained child pornography produced by Watson, featuring the minors in various states of undress.

Watson’s history of sex crimes dates back to 1991, when he was sentenced to five years in prison for sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl in New Jersey. As part of his sentence, he was required to register as a sex offender in any state or jurisdiction where he worked or resided. However, after moving to North Carolina, Watson failed to register.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Cervantes prosecuted the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood – a nationwide initiative to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006.

The investigation was a collaborative effort between HSI and the Hickory Police Department. Watson will remain in federal custody pending placement by the Federal Bureau of Prisons. The case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of child predators and the importance of continued efforts to protect our nation’s children.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of North Carolina and law enforcement agencies across the country must be commended for their tireless work in identifying and bringing to justice those who prey on our most vulnerable citizens.

The case will be closely watched by law enforcement and child advocacy groups, who continue to push for increased awareness and resources to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation.

For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

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