A Bethlehem man has been sentenced to two decades behind bars for his hand in the production of child pornography and other associated crimes. Harold Daleus, Jr., 49, will also face a lifetime of supervised release following his time in prison, as announced by United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero. The sentencing by United States District Judge John M. Gallagher comes after Daleus engaged in financially fueling the sexual abuse of children through live feeds from the Philippines.
According to a statement by the U.S. Attorney's Office, over several years, Daleus wired upwards of $24,000 to child sex traffickers in the Philippines, explicitly funding and directing the sexual abuse that he would then watch online. His conviction follows the December 2022 seizure of his electronic devices, which revealed a host of videos and images of the abuse and exploitation of prepubescent children.
After being indicted in August 2023, Daleus pleaded guilty to several charges including the production of child pornography, the use of the internet to entice a minor to engage in sexual conduct, receipt of child pornography, and possession of child pornography. This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations’ Allentown Resident Office with the help of law enforcement in the Philippines, which led to the conviction of the involved traffickers abroad.
"Harold Daleus paid for the ongoing sexual abuse of numerous children, providing explicit instructions for the vile acts that he wanted to watch in real-time," U.S. Attorney Romero said. "Whether they're here at home or half a world away, we must protect our vulnerable young kids from exploitation by predators and traffickers. This sentence ensures accountability for Daleus and some measure of justice for those he victimized."
Emphasizing the international implications of these crimes, Acting Special Agent in Charge of HSI Philadelphia Nathan R. Abel highlighted the global reach and cybercrime expertise of HSI, stating, "Our partnership with the tremendous prosecutors of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania continues to produce results for the American public and protect innocent children around the world." The case, prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Priya T. De Souza and Tatum Wilson, underscores the ongoing efforts to protect children from exploitation and hold offenders accountable, no matter the borders that may divide.
