Former East Hartford Resident Charged with Child Exploitation Offenses

David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), New England, today announced that NICHOLAS BURNHAM, 33, of East Hartford, has been charged by federal criminal complaint with child exploitation offenses.

As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, in 2016, Burnham was convicted in state court for possession of child pornography in the second degree.  His probation for that offense was terminated in 2018 after he was convicted of possession of child pornography in the first degree.  In 2023, Burnham began serving a term of special parole.  On December 17, 2024, believing that Burnham was using an unauthorized electronic device, Burnham’s parole officers and the Connecticut State Police searched his residence and seized three cellphones.  Preliminary forensic analysis of the phones revealed more than 2,000 images and videos depicting child sex abuse.  Burnham used Telegram and other encrypted messaging applications to trade child sex abuse material with others, and also accessed numerous webpages to view and download child sex abuse material.

Burnham has been detained in state custody since December 17, 2024.  He made his initial appearance in Hartford federal court on May 30, 2025.

The complaint charges Burnham with receipt and distribution of child pornography, which carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 15 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years, and with possession of child pornography, which carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.  The penalties in this matter are enhanced because of Burnham’s prior state convictions.         

U.S. Attorney Sullivan stressed that a complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt.  Charges are only allegations and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This investigation is being conducted by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) with the assistance of the Connecticut Department of Correction’s Division of Parole and Community Services, and the Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection’s Division of Scientific Services.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine E. Boyles through the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com.