HOUSTON – In a stunning blow against online predators, 28-year-old Vermont man Daniel Lee Hicks has been handed a 25-year federal prison sentence for his monstrous production of child sexual assault material (CSAM) involving a South Texas minor.
Hicks pleaded guilty on April 16 to two counts of producing child pornography and one count of coercion and enticement of a minor. U.S. District Judge George C. Hanks Jr. emphasized the severity of Hicks’ actions, noting that there are consequences for such heinous acts. In addition to his prison term, Hicks faces 10 years of supervised release and sex offender registration.
“The internet is a valuable tool, but unfortunately, for predators like Hicks, it can become a weapon used to target our most vulnerable,” said U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. “To parents, stay vigilant and be aware of those that could be infiltrating your children’s devices.”
Special Agent in Charge Chad Plantz of Homeland Security Investigations Houston echoed the call for vigilance, emphasizing the importance of education about social media dangers. “We were able to identify this child predator and remove him from the community for 25 years, but it’s never a bad time for parents to talk to their kids,” he said.
The investigation revealed that Hicks began communicating with his underage victim in 2021, using explicit language and threats to coerce her into creating and sending sexually explicit content. He also targeted at least two other minors across the United States. Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation, assisted by the Montgomery County Constables Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Luis Batarse prosecuted the case as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. For more information on PSC and internet safety education resources, please visit DHS’s Know 2 Protect page and the resources tab on that page.
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Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes|Cybercrime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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