Las Vegas man pleads guilty in federal court in child sexual abuse materials case

A Las Vegas resident pleaded guilty Thursday to receiving and possessing thousands of child sexual abuse material after a forensic analysis of his digital devices.

Jesse Ross Cowie pleaded guilty to one count of receipt of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography, according to a release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Nevada.

From Aug. 27, 2021, to April 4, 2024, Cowie purchased the entire catalogue of material from a convicted producer. The catalogue was predominantly products depicting infants and toddlers, court documents said.

Law enforcement executed a search warrant at his residence. A forensic analysis of his digital devices found over 23,125 images and 1,861 videos of products depicting infants and toddlers, and children under the age of 12.

“Every image or video depicting child sexual abuse represents evidence of a real child, including infants and toddlers, who has endured harm,” Christopher S. Delzotto, special agent in charge for the FBI Las Vegas field office, said in the release. “The exploitation of our nation’s most vulnerable children is unconscionable.”

Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 14 before United States District Judge Andrew P. Gordon.

The statutory minimum sentence is five years in prison and statutory maximum penalty is 20 years in prison for receipt of child pornography; and the statutory maximum penalty is 20 years in prison for possession of child pornography.

This case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Afroza Yeasmin is prosecuting the case.

Anyone with information on suspected child sexual exploitation can contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 800-THE-LOST (800-843-5678) or online at www.cybertipline.org.