North Louisiana Man Receives Life in Prison for the Sexual Exploitation, Trafficking and Production of Child Pornography Involving Children in the Philippines

MONROE, La. – Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that Richard Dean Hicks, 68, of Pioneer, Louisiana, has been sentenced to life in prison for his involvement in the sexual exploitation and trafficking of children and production of child pornography. United States District Judge Terry A. Doughty sentenced Hicks to life in prison for attempted sexual exploitation of a minor, life in prison for sex trafficking of a minor, 20 years in prison for promotion and solicitation of child pornography, and 30 years on each of the five counts of attempted production of child pornography. He was also ordered to serve a lifetime of supervised release if ever released from prison. 

Hicks was convicted by a jury in Monroe in January following a three-day trial. The charges in this case were the result of a nationwide investigation that began in 2012 into individuals who were soliciting child sex traffickers in the Philippines to share child sexual abusive material (CSAM) via live stream video. The individuals under investigation paid money for the child sex traffickers in the Philippines to sexually abuse children, while they watched and directed the sex trafficker’s sexual abuse of the children.

Through this investigation, agents with Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”) executed a search warrant at a residence in Philadelphia. As a result of evidence obtained, agents were able to identify an individual in the Philippines who was selling the sexually explicit live webcam shows of female adults engaging in the sexual abuse of underage children. Further investigation led to the identification of an individual in Louisiana, later identified as Hicks, who had been communicating with multiple females in the Philippines. From December 2017 through July 2020, Hicks and the females in the Philippines shared approximately 500 text messages and live video Skype calls wherein Hicks would pay the Philippine females to sexually abuse children as young as 5 years of age while he watched and told the women the type of sexual abuse he wanted them to perform on the children.

Evidence introduced at trial proved that Hicks communicated with these females in the Philippines via text messages and Skype video calls and paid money through Western Union on numerous occasions to view these individuals performing sexually explicit acts with underage children. The payments ranged from $25 to $120.

Agents obtained a federal search warrant for Hicks’ residence in Pioneer, Louisiana, in May 2023 and seized all of his computers and other electronic equipment used to participate in watching these sex shows in exchange for money.

“The fact that this defendant preyed upon not only underage children, but ones from another country who were being sexually abused by others is appalling,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook. “For those who do not believe that sex trafficking could be happening near you, this is proof that it can be. Were it not for the diligent efforts of these law enforcement agents whose investigation spread nationwide and even internationally, this defendant would not have been stopped. We applaud their dedication to this case and will continue seeking out those who commit these horrendous acts against children.”

“Sometimes a life sentence doesn’t seem like enough, but we hope this brings some relief to this predator’s victims and their families,” said HSI New Orleans Special Agent in Charge Eric DeLaune. “HSI special agents used our unique investigative authorities to ensure International borders were not able to protect this criminal from being held accountable.”

"The sentencing of Richard Dean Hicks to life in prison is a significant victory in our ongoing battle against child exploitation and trafficking. This case highlights the critical importance of international cooperation and the tireless efforts of our agents to dismantle networks that prey on innocent children,” said Special Agent in Charge of HSI New England Michael J. Krol. “HSI New England remains steadfast in our mission to protect children and bring perpetrators of such despicable crimes to justice. We will continue to work with our partners to ensure that those who exploit and abuse children are held accountable, no matter where they operate.”

The defendant who was arrested in Philadelphia was sentenced to 228 months in prison and a lifetime of supervised release. The female subjects in the Philippines are still the subject of a joint ongoing investigation with the Philippines and U.S. law enforcement. Numerous other females have been arrested. Pursuant to this investigation, there have been over 300 children rescued to date.

This case was investigated by HSI New Orleans with assistance from HSI New England, divisions of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the Louisiana ICAC (Internet Crimes Against Children) Task Force, and the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office, Bureau of Investigations, and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Casey N. Stelly and J. Luke Walker. 

To report an incident involving the possession, distribution, receipt or production of child pornography: Child sexual abuse material – referred to in legal terms as "child pornography" – captures the sexual abuse and exploitation of children. These images document victims’ exploitation and abuse, and they suffer revictimization every time the images are viewed. In 2023, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children received 36 million reports of the possession, manufacture, or distribution of child sexual abuse materials. To file a report with NCMEC, go to https://report.cybertip.org or call 1-800-843-5678. 

# # #