An Augusta man has admitted guilt in a U.S. District Court in Bangor for distributing and possessing child sexual abuse material. This follows an investigation initiated by a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC).

Court records reveal that Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Augusta Police Department began probing potential livestreaming of such material in April 2023. The NCMEC alerted the Maine State Police Computer Crimes Unit (MSP CCU) after receiving a report via its CyberTipline about an Omegle user, identified as Nathaniel Gagne, 35, who had uploaded a video file with suspected child sexual abuse content. Omegle is known for allowing anonymous chat interactions through text or video.

A search warrant executed at Gagne's residence led to his admission of viewing and sharing child sexual abuse material on Omegle. Authorities seized two cell phones and an SD card during their search, uncovering hundreds of related images and videos.

Gagne faces a prison sentence ranging from five to twenty years, alongside a possible maximum fine of $250,000. He will also face supervised release spanning five years to life on each count. A federal district judge will decide the final sentence after reviewing U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The case was investigated by HSI with support from MSP CCU and the Augusta Police Department.

In 2023 alone, NCMEC received 36 million reports concerning possession, manufacture, or distribution of child sexual abuse materials. To report incidents involving such materials or if someone you know has been sexually assaulted or abused in Maine, contact NCMEC or call the statewide helpline.

This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to address child exploitation online more effectively through coordinated efforts among federal, state, and local resources.