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WHEELING, W.Va. — A Wheeling man has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison after a CyberTip led investigators to evidence that he was producing and distributing child sexual abuse material online, federal prosecutors announced Thursday.
Gage Heckman, 22, received a 240-month federal prison sentence following an investigation launched after the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) received a CyberTip identifying suspicious activity associated with an Instagram account.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of West Virginia, the CyberTip prompted an immediate joint investigation involving the Wheeling Police Department and the FBI’s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force.
Investigators quickly obtained search warrants for Heckman’s South Wheeling residence, where electronic devices were seized for forensic examination. Authorities said digital evidence recovered from those devices directly linked Heckman to the production and online distribution of child sexual abuse material.
United States Attorney Matthew L. Harvey said the case demonstrates the importance of coordinated investigations involving local law enforcement, federal agencies, and organizations dedicated to protecting children from online exploitation.
“This outcome reflects the commitment of our office and our partners to track down those who exploit children and ensure they face the full force of federal justice,” Harvey said.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Perri, who presented evidence developed through the joint digital forensic investigation.
U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey imposed the 20-year sentence. The punishment reflects the seriousness of the offenses and the strength of the investigation that led to Heckman’s prosecution.
CyberTips submitted to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children play a critical role in identifying suspected online child exploitation. Technology companies are required under federal law to report apparent child sexual abuse material discovered on their platforms, allowing NCMEC to forward actionable information to appropriate law enforcement agencies for investigation.
The FBI’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force is a nationwide partnership of federal, state, and local agencies that investigates the online exploitation of children, identifies offenders, rescues victims, and supports the prosecution of those responsible for producing, possessing, or distributing child sexual abuse material.
Federal officials said the investigation highlights how a single digital report can rapidly develop into a criminal investigation, resulting in the identification of suspects, execution of search warrants, recovery of digital evidence, and successful federal prosecution.
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