David X. Sullivan, the United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New England, announced charges against Jason Gibson, a 45-year-old resident of Ledyard. Gibson faces federal charges related to child exploitation.
Court documents indicate that in February 2020, Gibson was convicted in state court for possession of child pornography. He received a sentence of 10 years, suspended after 30 months, followed by 10 years of probation. Released from state custody in January 2021, his probation was later revoked in April 2023 due to violations. This led to a sentence of 90 months with incarceration suspended after six months and an additional 94 months on probation. He was released again in August 2023.
Allegations state that during a routine home visit on March 6, 2024, state probation officers seized an unapproved cellphone from Gibson's residence containing a dark web application. The phone analysis revealed over 200 images and videos depicting child sex abuse and numerous text messages with links to child pornography on the dark web. On April 2, 2025, another home visit resulted in the seizure of an external hard drive with more than 18,000 images and 1,400 videos showing child sex abuse.
Gibson is charged with possession of child pornography carrying a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years and up to twenty years due to prior convictions.
Detained since April 2, Gibson made his initial court appearance today in Hartford federal court. U.S. Attorney Sullivan emphasized that "a complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt," reminding that defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt.
The investigation involves HSI and the New Haven Police Department with support from the Town of Groton Police Department and Connecticut Court Support Services Division – Adult Probation Services.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel P. Gordon prosecutes this case under the Project Safe Childhood Initiative by the U.S. Department of Justice aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation.
For further information about Project Safe Childhood or to report cases of child exploitation, visit www.justice.gov/psc or www.cybertipline.com.
