Justin D. Whatcott Acting United States Attorney for the District of Idaho | Department of Justice
Caleb Sickinger, a 45-year-old former police officer from Rigby, Idaho, has been sentenced to nine years in federal prison for receiving child pornography. The sentencing was announced by Acting U.S. Attorney Justin Whatcott.
The case began in November 2023 when FBI agents in Alabama arrested an individual on charges related to coercion, enticement, and possession of child pornography. During a post-arrest interview, the individual told investigators he had received illicit images from someone he believed was a woman in Idaho. The communications included her name and images of her.
FBI agents in Idaho investigated further and identified both the woman and the child depicted in the material. A search warrant was executed at the woman's home in Rigby, but authorities found that neither her electronic devices nor her email addresses matched those used during the crime.
Further investigation revealed that Caleb Sickinger had impersonated the woman without her knowledge by using photos from her social media account. He also admitted to obtaining images of a child from social media and having them digitally altered to appear as child pornography before distributing them to the Alabama suspect.
Chief U.S. District Judge David C. Nye ordered that after serving his prison term of 108 months, Sickinger will be placed on supervised release for life and must register as a sex offender. Sickinger pleaded guilty on April 8, 2025.
“This defendant victimized a child and her mother in committing this horrible crime,” Acting U.S. Attorney Whatcott said. “I commend the cooperative efforts of the federal, state, and local law enforcement agents who identified him as the perpetrator and held him appropriately accountable.”
“Every image and video created and shared perpetuates the abuse of a child who will carry that trauma for the rest of their lives,” said Special Agent in Charge Mehtab Syed of the Salt Lake City FBI. “The FBI is unwavering and united with our partners in the fight to protect our children from predators who seek to exploit and harm them.”
“I want to thank my ICAC investigators, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and our local and federal law enforcement partners for their efforts in securing today’s outcome,” said Attorney General Labrador. “Idahoans are safer today because of their hard work and dedication to protecting our state.”
The case involved collaboration between multiple agencies including the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Pocatello office, Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office, Idaho Falls Police Department, and Idaho ICAC Task Force.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood (https://www.justice.gov/psc), an initiative started by the Department of Justice in May 2006 aimed at combating child sexual exploitation through coordinated federal, state, and local resources.
