A Nevada man, previously registered as a sex offender, was sentenced to a long stretch of 65 years in prison by a federal court for the sexual exploitation of multiple minors and related offenses. The man identified as James Patrick Burns, 55, of Sparks, was also ordered to a lifetime of supervised release post-prison, according to The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Nevada.
Between 2018 and 2021, Burns executed an online sextortion campaign across platforms like Omegle, Snapchat, TikTok, and Mega. He threatened minors into producing child sexual abuse material (CSAM), which he then distributed on dark web forums. The Justice Department described him as a prolific creator of such illegal content. Court documents reveal he victimized over 100 children, many of whom are yet to be identified. The case caught law enforcement's attention when a victim's mother discovered menacing messages on her child's phone, which she promptly reported to the police.
In a comprehensive legal reckoning, Burns was ordered to pay $82,655.92 in restitution and $21,000 in assessments under the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance Act. On March 5, a jury found Burns guilty on multiple counts, including eight counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, eight counts of coercion and enticement of a minor, and other charges related to the possession and distribution of child pornography.
The investigation was a joint effort and included the participation of the FBI-led Northern Nevada Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. The task force is a collective force, comprising detectives and investigators from local authorities such as the Sparks Police Department, Washoe County Sheriff’s Office, Nevada Attorney General’s Office, along with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). Special agents and law enforcement from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office, HSI Chicago Field Office, and other national entities also contributed significant assistance.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, U.S. Attorney Jason M. Frierson, Assistant Director Michael Nordwall of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division, along with Spencer L. Evans and Christopher Miller of the FBI Las Vegas Field Office and HSI respectively, announced the sentence.
