A Houston resident, Derrick Alexander Barnum, 25, has been sentenced to 60 years in federal prison for multiple convictions related to child sexual abuse material (CSAM). U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei announced the sentencing following Barnum's guilty plea on April 11 to charges of possession, distribution, and production of child pornography.
U.S. District Judge Ewing Werlein Jr. handed down the sentence totaling 720 months in prison—360 months for production, 240 months for distribution, and another 120 months for possession of CSAM. The sentences will run consecutively.
The court was presented with details about the victim, who was three years old when the exploitation began. A victim impact statement read by the victim's mother highlighted the need for counseling due to trauma caused by Barnum's actions. The court described the case as involving some of "the worst, most horrible facts" it had encountered.
Restitution will be determined at a later date. Following his prison term, Barnum will be under supervised release for life with strict conditions limiting his access to children and the internet. He will also have to register as a sex offender.
Ganjei stated that although Barnum's sentence likely means he will spend his life in prison, it does not heal the harm inflicted on the victim: "The defendant robbed this child of their innocence." He warned that similar sentences await those who commit comparable acts.
FBI Houston Special Agent in Charge Douglas Williams remarked on the severity of Barnum’s actions: “Derrick Barnum didn’t just commit a crime; he broadcasted the torture of a child.” Williams emphasized that FBI agents worked diligently to ensure justice was served.
The investigation began in July 2024 after authorities discovered Barnum’s activities in an online CSAM trading room where he posted videos with his victim and engaged with others committing similar acts.
Authorities seized electronic devices from Barnum’s residence revealing nearly 1000 images and 259 videos depicting minors in sexually explicit conduct. About 27 videos showed him engaging directly with his victim.
Barnum also received illicit content from other individuals involving minors. The FBI Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force led this investigation alongside Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Franklyn who prosecuted under Project Safe Childhood (PSC), an initiative launched by DOJ in May 2006 targeting child sexual exploitation and abuse nationwide.
