A Gulfport man has been sentenced to 87 months in federal prison for possessing images and videos depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Nicholas Snyder, age 29, will also serve twenty-five years of supervised release following his prison term.
In 2020, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Gulfport identified Snyder as being in possession of illegal material involving minors. In May of that year, HSI and the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office Cybercrime Division seized Snyder’s cellphone. A forensic examination by the Cybercrime Division revealed multiple images of children, including some under five years old, involved in sexually explicit acts.
Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon for the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Eric P. DeLaune of Homeland Security Investigations announced the sentencing.
The investigation was conducted by HSI and the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office Cybercrime Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lee Smith and Andrea Jones prosecuted the case.
The prosecution was part of Project Safe Childhood, a Department of Justice initiative started in May 2006 to address child sexual exploitation and abuse through coordinated efforts among federal, state, and local agencies. More information about Project Safe Childhood is available at www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
