Richard Dean Hicks, a 68-year-old resident of Pioneer, Louisiana, has been sentenced to life imprisonment for his role in the sexual exploitation and trafficking of children, as well as the production of child pornography. United States District Judge Terry A. Doughty handed down the sentence, which includes life imprisonment for attempted sexual exploitation and sex trafficking of a minor, 20 years for promoting and soliciting child pornography, and 30 years on each count related to attempted production of child pornography. Hicks is also subjected to lifetime supervised release if he is ever released from prison.
Hicks’ conviction followed a three-day jury trial in Monroe in January. The charges stemmed from an investigation that began in 2012 into individuals who solicited child sex traffickers in the Philippines to share live-streamed child sexual abuse material (CSAM). These individuals paid for the abuse while directing it remotely.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) executed a search warrant at a Philadelphia residence during their investigation. Evidence obtained led agents to identify an individual in the Philippines involved in selling explicit webcam shows featuring adults sexually abusing underage children. Further inquiries identified Hicks as having communicated with several females in the Philippines between December 2017 and July 2020. Hicks engaged in approximately 500 text messages and live Skype calls with these women, paying them to sexually abuse children as young as five while he watched.
Evidence presented at trial showed Hicks used text messages and Skype video calls to communicate with these women and sent payments through Western Union ranging from $25 to $120 for viewing these acts.
In May 2023, federal agents searched Hicks’ residence in Pioneer, Louisiana, seizing computers and electronic equipment used for viewing these sex shows.
“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. He praised law enforcement’s efforts that led to Hicks’ arrest.
HSI New Orleans Special Agent Eric DeLaune expressed hope that the life sentence would bring relief to victims and their families: “Sometimes a life sentence doesn’t seem like enough.”
Special Agent Michael J. Krol highlighted international cooperation’s importance: “This case highlights the critical importance of international cooperation… We will continue to work with our partners.”
The investigation has led to numerous arrests and over 300 rescued children thus far. The female subjects involved remain under joint investigation by Philippine and U.S. law enforcement agencies.
This case was investigated by HSI New Orleans with support from HSI New England and other divisions within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security alongside local task forces and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Casey N. Stelly and J. Luke Walker.
To report incidents involving child pornography or CSAM: contact the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children via https://report.cybertip.org or call 1-800-843-5678.
