Williston Man Sentenced to 20 years for Possession of Child Pornography

BISMARCK – United States Attorney Christopher C. Myers announced that on June 11, 2018, Chief United States District Judge Daniel L. Hovland sentenced Jess Harlan Mallo, age 44, Williston, ND, on charges of Possession of Materials Depicting the Sexual Exploitation of Children.  Judge Hovland sentenced Mallo to serve 20 years in federal prison, to be followed by 10 years supervised release.

This investigation was initiated when law enforcement received a tip that Mallo had uploaded images to his Gmail account that suggested he may have been victimizing a minor female.  Investigators seized the Gmail account images and conducted a search of Mallo’s residence that resulted in the seizure of several electronic devices belonging to Mallo, which were found to contain images depicting the sexual exploitation of children.  Mallo admitted to possessing child pornography on his devices when interviewed by law enforcement.  Mallo has one prior conviction in 2005 involving the sexual molestation of two minor females in the State of Minnesota.

This case was investigated by the Williston Police Department, Bureau of Criminal Investigation, and Homeland Security Investigations.

Assistant United States Attorney Gary L. Delorme prosecuted the case.

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