Michael P. Drescher Acting United States Attorney for the District of Vermont | U.S. Attorney for the District of Vermont
Anthony Hamel, a 25-year-old resident of Cowansville, Quebec, was sentenced on March 17 to 24 months in prison and five years of supervised release after pleading guilty to possession of child sexual abuse material involving a minor under the age of 12, according to the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont.
The case highlights ongoing efforts by law enforcement agencies to prevent the entry and distribution of illegal materials across U.S. borders. The sentence follows an incident at the Morses Line Port of Entry on May 9, 2025, when Hamel attempted to enter the United States from Canada.
Court records show that Hamel was referred for secondary inspection by Customs and Border Protection officers based on his responses during screening. During this inspection, he stated he intended to meet an 18-year-old high school student with whom he had communicated online for about six months. Officers conducted a manual search of his phone and discovered suspected child sexual abuse material. Homeland Security Investigations agents were called in, confirmed the presence of illegal content, interviewed Hamel, and later found approximately 268 videos and 33 images depicting sexual assaults of prepubescent children—including toddlers and infants—on his device. Some materials also involved bondage or sadism.
First Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt said: “Every day, Customs and Border Protection Officers protect Americans by performing vital screening functions at our Ports of Entry. This case underscores the importance of CBP’s work, and the need to vet those who cross our borders.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Lasher prosecuted the case while Assistant Federal Public Defender Barclay Johnson represented Hamel.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood, a Department of Justice initiative launched in May 2006 aimed at combating child exploitation through coordinated federal, state, and local resources.
