Philip Andrew Douglass, a former federal officer from Pineville, North Carolina, appeared in court to face charges related to child sexual abuse material (CSAM). U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson announced that Douglass, 42, is accused of distributing and possessing CSAM between July 24 and August 20, 2024. At the time of the alleged offenses, Douglass served as an Enforcement and Removal Operations Officer with Homeland Security Investigations.
U.S. Attorney Ferguson emphasized the commitment of his office to hold accountable those who exploit vulnerable children. He expressed gratitude for the investigative efforts of the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) and assistance from Homeland Security Investigations.
Director Chip Hawley of the SBI stated that their agency is dedicated to protecting children from predators. He praised the work of their Computer Crimes Unit and collaboration with federal partners to bring offenders to justice.
Douglass made his initial court appearance before Magistrate Judge David C. Keesler. He was released on bond under electronic monitoring and warrantless searches by the U.S. Probation Office.
The SBI leads the investigation while Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Cervantes prosecutes the case. The indictment's charges are allegations, and Douglass is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
This case falls under Project Safe Childhood, an initiative by the Department of Justice since May 2006 aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse by leveraging federal, state, and local resources.
For further information about Project Safe Childhood, visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
