A Las Vegas man has been sentenced to 18 years and 4 months in prison for the sexual exploitation of a child and possession of over 2,000 child sexual abuse material (CSAM) files. Chief United States District Judge Andrew P. Gordon issued the sentence, which will be followed by 15 years of supervised release. The material depicted two children under the man's care and other minors.
"The defendant engaged in a pattern of activity involving the sexual exploitation of a young girl within his supervisory control and possessed CSAM depicting two children in his custody," stated United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. Chattah added, "The defendant not only traumatized the children who trusted him, but he also possessed child sexual abuse material of additional victims. Let today’s sentencing be a deterrent to others like this defendant."
Special Agent in Charge Spencer L. Evans for the FBI Las Vegas Division remarked on the severity of the crime, saying: "Exploiting young children and creating child sexual abuse material is among the most heinous crimes investigated by the FBI. We remain steadfast in our commitment to seek justice for the victims of such predators."
Court documents revealed that in December 2020, Daniel Lee Rhees admitted in messages to assaulting a six-year-old girl related to him. Rhees discussed forming a group with other individuals using the Session platform to share CSAM. A search of Rhees' residence uncovered devices with CSAM material, including 1,803 images and 243 videos. Rhees also exploited another girl aged four.
Rhees has pleaded guilty to charges of sexual exploitation of children and possession of child pornography. Besides imprisonment, Rhees will register as a sex offender in accordance with the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.
The FBI and Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department conducted the investigation, with Assistant United States Attorney Afroza Yeasmin prosecuting. United States Attorney Sigal Chattah and Special Agent in Charge Spencer L. Evans announced the sentencing.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a Justice Department initiative from May 2006 aimed at combating child sexual exploitation. For more information, visit www.justice.gov/psc. Information on child exploitation can be reported to the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or through tips.fbi.gov.