WILMINGTON, DEL. — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (USAO - Delaware), published as received.

WILMINGTON, Del. – Federal agents arrested a Bridgeville man on September 9, 2026, on charges of production and distribution of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).

According to court documents, Thomas Twilley, 30, sexually abused a child, took sexually explicit photos of the child, and shared the photos with an administrator of a CSAM network online.  Law enforcement estimates the victim was a young child when the material was produced.

Twilley is charged in a criminal complaint with production of child pornography, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2251(a), and distribution of child pornography, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252(a)(2) & (b)(1). If convicted, Twilley faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison.  Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. 

U.S. Attorney Benjamin L. Wallace made the announcement. HSI investigated the case with assistance from Delaware Child Predator Task Force and Delaware State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Claudia L. Pare is prosecuting the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, 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 to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware.  Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case No. 26-mj-480.

The charges contained in the criminal complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.