Former Federal Officer Charged With Possession And Distribution Of Child Sexual Abuse Material Appears In Court

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson announced today that Philip Andrew Douglass, 42, of Pineville, N.C., and a former federal officer, appeared in court this morning to face charges of possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Chip Hawley, Director of the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), joins U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making today’s announcement.

According to allegations in the criminal indictment that was unsealed in federal court today, from July 24 to August 20, 2024, Douglass knowingly distributed CSAM and possessed and accessed with intent to view CSAM. During the time of the alleged offense, Douglass was an Enforcement and Removal Operations Officer with U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement. 

“The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to holding accountable those who commit crimes involving vulnerable children, especially those serving in positions of public trust,” said U.S. Attorney Ferguson. “I commend the SBI for their investigative work on this case and I thank Homeland Security Investigations for their assistance throughout the investigation.”

“The SBI is dedicated to protecting children from predators and exploitation. I take great pride in the work of our Computer Crimes Unit and our collaboration with federal partners to ensure that those who prey on our children are brought to justice. The SBI will continue its relentless efforts to hold those who exploit our youth accountable. The SBI would like to thank the office of the Inspector General at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the United States Attorney's Office, Western District, for their partnership in this case,” said Director Hawley. 

Douglass made his initial appearance before Magistrate Judge David C. Keesler. He was released on bond and subject to electronic monitoring and warrantless searches pursuant to the U.S. Probation Office. 

The SBI is in charge of the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Cervantes of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte is prosecuting the case. The charges in the indictment are allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. 

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.