A Canadian national, James Hjelmeland, age 30, pleaded guilty in Orlando, Florida to several federal charges related to child sexual exploitation. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida, Hjelmeland admitted to one count of attempted enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity, two counts of distributing child sexual abuse material (CSAM), one count of transporting CSAM, and one count of possessing CSAM.
Hjelmeland faces significant prison time. The charge for attempted enticement carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in federal prison. Each distribution and transportation offense has a mandatory minimum penalty of five years and up to 20 years in prison. The possession offense is punishable by up to 20 years’ imprisonment.
According to court documents, on December 29, 2024, an undercover detective with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office posed as the guardian of a fictional 12-year-old child. Hjelmeland engaged in sexually explicit communication with the detective and arranged travel from Canada to Orlando intending to have sex with the minor. During these conversations, he distributed CSAM materials. When arrested in Orlando, authorities found additional CSAM on his cell phone that had been brought into the United States; some involved children under the age of twelve.
The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, United States Customs and Border Patrol, and the Southern Alberta Internet Child Exploitation Team. Assistant United States Attorney Kaley Austin-Aronson is prosecuting the case.
The prosecution falls under Project Safe Childhood—a nationwide Department of Justice initiative launched in May 2006—aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse by coordinating efforts among federal, state, and local agencies. More information about this program can be found at www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
