RENO, Nev. – Darren Wayne Phillips, 51, from Reno Nevada, was sentenced today to 5 years and 3 months in federal prison for possessing thousands of child sexual abuse images and videos, including prepubescent minors involved in sexually explicit conduct and sadistic and masochistic conduct, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada.
Phillips, 51, pleaded guilty on June 5, 2019, to one count of possession of child pornography. In addition, Chief U.S. District Judge Miranda Du sentenced Phillips to 20 years of supervised release following the term of imprisonment. Under the Sex Offender Registration Notification Act, Phillips will also be required to register as a sex offender.
According to court documents, in April 2018, an individual presented Phillips’ laptop computer to law enforcement and reported finding child pornography on the computer. Investigators found child pornography on Phillips’ computer. Phillips admitted that, starting in 2016 to April 2018, he possessed on his computer: (a) 4,753 images and 538 videos of child pornography; and (b) an additional 17,036 images and 449 videos containing child erotica or nudity. Some of the images depicted prepubescent minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct, including sadistic and masochistic conduct.
The case was investigated by the Northern Nevada Child Exploitation Task Force, the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office, and the Nevada Attorney General’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys James Keller and Andolyn Johnson prosecuted the case.
To report child sexual abuse and exploitation, please contact the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678) or online at https://report.cybertip.org/.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, 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 and for information about internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.