LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — A Las Vegas man pleaded guilty Thursday to receiving and possessing thousands of child sexual abuse material files following 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 court documents.
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What investigators found
Court documents state that from Aug. 27, 2021, to April 4, 2024, Cowie purchased an entire catalogue of child sexual abuse material from a convicted producer of the material. The catalogue predominantly depicted infants and toddlers.
Law enforcement executed a search warrant at his residence. A forensic analysis of his digital devices uncovered more than 23,125 images and 1,861 videos of child sexual abuse material depicting infants, toddlers and children under the age of 12.
“By securing this guilty plea, we have fast-tracked justice for victims and ensured that this predator will be removed from our community,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. “We will continue to deploy every technological resource available to intercept this type of material and hold perpetrators fully accountable.”
“Every image or video depicting child sexual abuse represents evidence of a real child, including infants and toddlers, who has endured harm,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher S. Delzotto for the FBI Las Vegas Field Office. “The exploitation of our nation’s most vulnerable children is unconscionable. The FBI remains steadfast in our mission to identify and apprehend these offenders. In partnership with other law enforcement agencies, we are committed to holding those responsible for these violent online crimes fully accountable.”
Sentencing and penalties
The statutory minimum sentence for receipt of child pornography is five years in prison. The statutory maximum penalty is 20 years in prison for receipt of child pornography and 20 years in prison for possession of child pornography.
Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 14, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Andrew P. Gordon. A judge will impose a sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The case, docket number 2:25cr307, was investigated by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Afroza Yeasmin is prosecuting the case.
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