Canadian National Indicted For Attempted Enticement Of A Minor To Engage In Sexual Activity, And Distributing, Transporting, And Possessing Child Sexual Abuse Material

Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging James Hjelmeland (30, Canada) with one count of attempted enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity, two counts of distributing, one count of transporting, and one count of possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM). If convicted, Hjelmeland faces a minimum penalty of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison for the attempted offense, a minimum of 5 years, up to 20 years, in federal prison for each distribution and transportation offense, and up to 20 years in federal prison for the possession offense. 

According to court documents, on December 29, 2024, an undercover detective with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office posed as the guardian of a 12-year-old “child.” Hjelmeland messaged the undercover detective and inquired about the age of the “child.” Hjelmeland then engaged in sexually explicit conversation with the undercover detective and made plans to travel from Canada to Orlando to have sex with the “child.” During the conversation, Hjelmeland distributed CSAM to the undercover detective. When Hjelmeland was arrested in Orlando, he had CSAM material on his cellphone that he had transported to the United States involving children under the age of 12. 

An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, United States Customs and Border Patrol, and the Southern Alberta Internet Child Exploitation Team. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kaley Austin-Aronson.

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 the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.