COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – A U-S District Court Judge in Council Bluffs, last Friday, sentenced a western Iowa man to prison on a child pornography charge. 47-year old Jason Wickett, of Little Sioux, was sentenced to 200 months (16.6-years) in prison, and eight years of supervised release to follow his prison term, for distribution of child pornography.  Wickett pleaded guilty to the
offense on April 22, 2020.

The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation began an investigation into Wickett from an online investigation of a TOR hidden services site, which is designed to conceal an internet user’s identity and activity, by the Federal Bureau of Investigations Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. The hidden services site was primarily operated to sexually exploit children. Wickett distributed child pornography on hidden service sites on the TOR network in November and December 2019. A search warrant was executed at Wickett’s residence on December 17, 2019. Law enforcement seized electronics that contained images and videos of child pornography.

United States Attorney Mark Krickbaum stated, “The sentence imposed in this case should serve as a clear message to anyone who uses the dark web to distribute or view child pornography. You are not anonymous, and after you are arrested and convicted, you will go to federal prison.” Following the sentencing, FBI Omaha Special Agent in Charge Kristi Johnson stated, “The 16- year sentence handed down to Jason Wickett illustrates the seriousness of his crime. FBI Omaha and its Omaha Child Exploitation Task Force will continue to investigate and arrest these predators who prey on the most vulnerable of our communities.”

The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigations Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, Iowa Division of Criminal Investigations, and the Harrison County Sherriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.