A federal jury in Monroe, Louisiana, has convicted Richard Dean Hicks, 68, of Pioneer, Louisiana, on charges related to sexual exploitation and trafficking involving children in the Philippines. The verdict came after a three-day trial presided over by United States District Judge Terry A. Doughty.
Hicks faced 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. These charges arose from an investigation initiated in 2012 targeting individuals soliciting child sex traffickers in the Philippines to share abusive material via live stream video.
The investigation led agents from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) to execute a search warrant at a residence in Philadelphia. Evidence gathered identified an individual selling explicit webcam shows involving underage children. Further inquiries pointed to Hicks as someone who communicated with multiple females in the Philippines between December 2017 and July 2020. During this period, Hicks reportedly exchanged approximately 500 text messages and Skype calls with these individuals.
At trial, evidence showed that Hicks paid for these interactions using Western Union transfers ranging from $25 to $120. On May 31, 2022, agents obtained a federal search warrant for Hicks' residence in Pioneer and seized electronic equipment used for viewing these acts.
The jury delivered its guilty verdict after deliberating for two-and-a-half hours. Following the verdict, Hicks was taken into custody by the U.S. Marshal Service. He faces a minimum sentence of 15 years up to life imprisonment along with potential lifetime supervised release and fines up to $250,000.
U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown commented on the case: “This case involves some of the most heinous forms of child abuse that we have seen.” He credited HSI agents for their work leading to Hicks' conviction and emphasized ongoing efforts against such crimes.
Special Agent Eric DeLaune from HSI New Orleans stated: "This type of abuse is uniquely insidious... Despite the complexity of this case the jury saw the magnitude of the crime."
The investigation also resulted in sentencing another defendant arrested in Philadelphia to 228 months imprisonment with lifetime supervision. Ongoing investigations continue concerning female subjects involved in these activities in collaboration with Philippine authorities.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood aimed at combating child sexual exploitation nationwide by combining resources across various levels of law enforcement.
For more information or reporting incidents related to child pornography or exploitation visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov or contact NCMEC at https://report.cybertip.org or call 1-800-843-5678.