WASHINGTON — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)), published as received.
WASHINGTON – Charles Hilton, 40, of the District of Columbia, was sentenced October 7, 2025, in U.S. District Court to 25 years in federal prison in connection with producing child pornography and sexually abusing a young girl, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Hilton pleaded guilty March 27, 2025, before Judge Ana C. Reyes to a criminal Information charging him with one count of coercion and enticement of a child and one count of first degree sexual abuse of a child with aggravating cirmcumstances.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Reyes ordered Hilton to serve 15 years of supervised release and to register as a sex offender.
Joining in the announcement of the sentencing was FBI Assistant Director in Charge Darren B. Cox of the Washington Field Office, and Chief Pamela A. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department.
On November 21, 2024, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received three separate tips regarding possession of child sex abuse material (CSAM). The reports referenced more than 1,000 files of child pornography stored on a server connected with accounts linked to Hilton. About 20 of the CSAM files appeared to have been homemade. The tipster provided Hilton’s name, phone number, email address and mailing address to the NCMEC.
On Nov. 26, 2024, law enforcement obtained an arrest warrant for Hilton, as well as a warrant to search his residence in Northeast. Officers recovered numerous digital devices from the residence.
In an interview with investigators, Hilton initially claimed his accounts had been hacked. Investigators confronted Hilton with a specific video showing the sexual abuse of a minor victim. Hilton then admitted to having made it.
Investigators recovered text messages from Hilton’s devices. The texts indicated that Hilton blackmailed the minor victim. In them, Hilton coerced the victim to engage in sexual activity by threatening to share embarrassing information about her. Hilton eventually produced photos and videos of himself sexual abusing the minor victim.
This case was investigated by FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Richard S. Kelley and Jocelyn Bond.
This case was brought as part of the Department of Justice's Project Safe Childhood initiative. In February 2006, the Attorney General created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorney's Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
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Editor's Note:
This matter occurred on date indicated but not published at that time due to government shutdown. Press release posted and made available following the return to normal operations.
