Charles Hilton, a 40-year-old resident of the District of Columbia, was sentenced on October 24, 2025, to 25 years in federal prison for producing child pornography and sexually abusing a young girl. The sentencing took place in U.S. District Court and was announced by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Hilton pleaded guilty on March 27, 2025, before Judge Ana C. Reyes to one count of coercion and enticement of a child and one count of first degree sexual abuse of a child with aggravating circumstances. In addition to his prison sentence, Hilton will serve 15 years of supervised release and must register as a sex offender.
The announcement was made jointly with FBI Assistant Director in Charge Darren B. Cox of the Washington Field Office and Chief Pamela A. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department.
The investigation began after the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received three separate tips on November 21, 2024, about possession of child sexual abuse material linked to Hilton’s accounts. The reports referenced more than 1,000 files stored on a server associated with Hilton, including approximately 20 homemade files. The tipster provided identifying information for Hilton to NCMEC.
Law enforcement obtained an arrest warrant for Hilton and searched his residence in Northeast Washington on November 26, 2024. Officers recovered multiple digital devices from the location.
During an interview with investigators, Hilton initially claimed that his accounts had been hacked but later admitted to creating a video showing the sexual abuse of a minor victim when confronted with evidence. Investigators also found text messages indicating that Hilton blackmailed the minor victim by threatening to share embarrassing information unless she complied with his demands. He produced photos and videos documenting his abuse.
The case was investigated by the FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Richard S. Kelley and Jocelyn Bond.
According to the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood initiative, launched in February 2006 by the Attorney General, federal efforts are coordinated across agencies to combat online exploitation and abuse against children through prosecution as well as victim identification and rescue efforts. More information can be found at www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
This press release was delayed due to a government shutdown but has now been published following the return to normal operations.
