Sex Offender Sentenced To 20 Years For Possession Of Ai-Generated Child Pornography

MOBILE, AL – James Eugene Dees, age 52, was sentenced on October 2, 2025, to 20 years in prison for Possession of Obscene Visual Representations of the Sexual Abuse of Children and Penalties for Registered Sex Offenders.

According to court documents, Dees had been convicted in Mobile County of a child pornography offense in 2022.  As a result of that conviction, he was ordered to a term of probation and required to register as a sex offender.  During the pendency of his probation, his probation officer became suspicious that Dees was violating the terms of his probation.  A search warrant was executed, and Dees was found to be hiding in a home where he was prohibited from residing.  He had in his possession a cell phone.  The phone was searched and found to contain images of child pornography and images of computer-generated child pornography.  Dees entered a guilty plea to the charges of Possession of Obscene Visual Representations of the Sexual Abuse of Children and Penalties for Registered Sex Offenders on June 12, 2025.

At sentencing, U.S. District Judge Kristi DuBose sentenced Dees to 20 years in prison.  Once released, Dees will be placed on a supervised release for the rest of his life.   Dees is prohibited from possessing internet capable devices.  He is also ordered to have no contact with minors.  Dees will be required to register as a sex offender.  He was ordered to pay $200 in special assessments.

U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kacey Chappelear prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

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 Attorneys’ 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.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc/publications-resources

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Alabama at http://www.justice.gov/usao/als/.

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