ALBUQUERQUE – Joseph Gadman, 42, of Tucumcari, New Mexico, will spend the next decade behind bars after being sentenced for a horrifying attempt to exploit children. Gadman was handed a 10-year federal prison sentence for attempting to engage in sexual conduct with two fictitious minor children, the result of a chillingly effective undercover operation by the FBI.
The investigation, which began in mid-December 2022, quickly revealed Gadman’s depraved intentions. Operating under the screen name “Gadmanj40” on a social networking site notorious for child sexual abuse material, Gadman actively sought out and contacted an undercover FBI agent posing as a parent. Court documents detail how Gadman, through online communications, explicitly expressed his desire to commit sexual acts with the agent’s fabricated children.
The digital exchange rapidly escalated. Gadman willingly shared his phone number, transitioning the conversation to text messages where he brazenly detailed his perverse fantasies involving children aged 5 and 8. The messages left no room for doubt about his intent. On January 13, 2023, Gadman drove from Tucumcari to Albuquerque, prepared to meet the agent. He arrived carrying condoms, cash, and even snacks – items intended for the imagined victims.
FBI agents were waiting. The moment Gadman arrived at the pre-arranged meeting location, he was swiftly arrested. Despite admitting to being “Gadmanj40” during a post-arrest interview, Gadman attempted a pathetic denial, claiming he hadn’t intended to actually follow through with his disturbing plans. The evidence, however, spoke for itself. Federal sentences carry no parole, meaning Gadman will serve the full 10 years.
U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, announced the sentencing. But the prison term is only the first step. Upon his release, Gadman will face 10 years of supervised release and will be required to register as a sex offender, a permanent mark of his heinous crimes.
The FBI Albuquerque Field Office led the investigation, with crucial assistance from the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office, as part of the New Mexico Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force. This case is a stark reminder of the ongoing battle against online predators, and is being prosecuted under Project Safe Childhood, a Department of Justice initiative dedicated to combating child sexual exploitation. Information on Project Safe Childhood can be found at Justice.gov/PSC.
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Key Facts
- State: New Mexico
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes|Cybercrime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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