ORLANDO, Fla. – A 30-year-old Canadian man who traveled across the border with the intent to meet a child will now spend nearly two decades in a United States federal prison. James Hjelmeland, a resident of Canada, was sentenced Tuesday by U.S. District Judge Carlos Mendoza to 17 years and 6 months behind bars.
The sentence follows his guilty plea on November 25, 2025, for the attempted enticement of a minor and multiple charges involving the distribution, transportation, and possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
The investigation into Hjelmeland began in late 2024 when he caught the attention of an undercover detective with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. According to court records, the detective posed as the guardian of a fictional 12-year-old child.
Throughout their interactions, Hjelmeland engaged in sexually explicit conversations and eventually made concrete plans to travel from Canada to Orlando for the purpose of having sex with the child. During these digital exchanges, Hjelmeland also distributed CSAM to the undercover officer.
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When Hjelmeland arrived in Orlando on December 29, 2024, law enforcement was waiting. Upon his arrest, authorities searched his cellphone and discovered it contained child sexual abuse material involving victims under the age of 12—material he had transported into the country from Canada.
U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe, who announced the sentencing, highlighted the international teamwork required to close the case.
“The cooperation demonstrated by local, federal, and international agencies in this case affirms a commitment by our law enforcement partners to protect children from exploitation and harm,” Kehoe stated. “Because of their diligence and shared expertise, another child predator has been brought to justice.”
The investigation was a massive joint effort involving Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the Southern Alberta Internet Child Exploitation Team in Canada. Tim Hemker, the Assistant Special Agent in Charge for HSI Jacksonville, emphasized the priority of these cases, noting that protecting the most vulnerable members of society remains a “fundamental responsibility” of law enforcement.
This prosecution falls under the umbrella of Project Safe Childhood, a Department of Justice initiative launched in 2006 to pool federal, state, and local resources against the exploitation of minors. Assistant United States Attorney Kaley Austin-Aronson led the prosecution for the Middle District of Florida.
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