MONROE, La. – In a devastating blow to child exploitation, Richard Dean Hicks, 68, of Pioneer, Louisiana, has been sentenced to life in prison for his involvement in the sexual exploitation and trafficking of children and production of child pornography.
The harsh sentence was handed down by United States District Judge Terry A. Doughty following a three-day trial in January, where Hicks was convicted by a jury of multiple charges, including attempted sexual exploitation of a minor, sex trafficking of a minor, promotion and solicitation of child pornography, and attempted production of child pornography.
According to the Department of Justice, Hicks was part of a nationwide investigation that began in 2012 into individuals soliciting child sex traffickers in the Philippines to share child sexual abusive material (CSAM) via live stream video. The investigation revealed that Hicks had been communicating with multiple females in the Philippines, sharing approximately 500 text messages and live video Skype calls, wherein he would pay the women to sexually abuse children as young as 5 years old while he watched and directed the abuse.
Agents with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) obtained a federal search warrant for Hicks’ residence in Pioneer, Louisiana, in May 2023, seizing all of his computers and other electronic equipment used to participate in watching these sex shows in exchange for money. The payments ranged from $25 to $120.
“The fact that this defendant preyed upon not only underage children, but ones from another country who were being sexually abused by others is appalling,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook. “For those who do not believe that sex trafficking could be happening near you, this is proof that it can be. Were it not for the diligent efforts of these law enforcement agents, this defendant would not have been stopped.”
“Sometimes a life sentence doesn’t seem like enough, but we hope this brings some relief to this predator’s victims and their families,” said HSI New Orleans Special Agent in Charge Eric DeLaune. “HSI special agents used our unique investigative authorities to ensure International borders were not able to protect this criminal from being held accountable.”
Hicks was sentenced to life in prison for attempted sexual exploitation of a minor, life in prison for sex trafficking of a minor, 20 years in prison for promotion and solicitation of child pornography, and 30 years on each of the five counts of attempted production of child pornography. He was also ordered to serve a lifetime of supervised release if ever released from prison.
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Key Facts
- State: Louisiana
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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